Publication
Title
A longitudinal study of autism spectrum disorder characteristics in adolescents with restrictive type anorexia nervosa during and after underweight
Author
Abstract
Objectives: This prospective, longitudinal study aims to compare the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) characteristics in adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) during and after underweight in order to help unravel the complex link between both conditions.Methods24 adolescents with AN completed the youth self-report, autism spectrum quotient (AQ) or autism spectrum quotient adolescent version (AQ - adolescent) and a questionnaire designed by the researchers during a state of underweight and after weight recovery.Results: AQ total score and several AQ subscale scores at the time of underweight are significantly higher than after weight recovery with medium to large effect sizes. Linear modelling cannot prove a significant effect of weight gain, internalizing problems or medication use on AQ score, but it does show an association between AQ during underweight and AQ after weight recovery.Conclusions: The results highlight the complexity of the link between AN and ASD characteristics. Although a clear change in AQ score is seen in part of the participants, this effect cannot be generalized and a link with weight change cannot be demonstrated. It seems likely that ASD characteristics in AN are a combination of trait and state: underweight and starvation might exacerbate potentially present traits. Part of our results may indicate the existence of subgroups based on AQ score during underweight. Our study supports the theory that more ASD characteristics at T1 may result in a poorer outcome and a higher need for specified and intensive treatment.
Language
English
Source (journal)
European eating disorders review. - Bognor Regis
Publication
Bognor Regis : 2024
ISSN
1072-4133
1099-0968 [online]
DOI
10.1002/ERV.3042
Volume/pages
32 :2 (2024) , p. 310-321
ISI
001092205800001
Pubmed ID
37898973
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 29.10.2023
Last edited 30.04.2024
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