The impact of schizotypy on quality of life among adults with autism spectrum disorder.

Researchers studied 110 adults with autism to see if certain personality traits (called schizotypal traits) affected their quality of life. They found that people with autism who also had these traits experienced more anxiety, depression, and lower quality of life. The connection between these traits and poor quality of life was mainly explained by increased anxiety and depression. This suggests some autistic adults may need extra support for mental health to improve their wellbeing.

This study examined how schizotypal personality traits affect quality of life in 110 adults with autism spectrum disorder. Participants completed questionnaires measuring schizotypy, autistic traits, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Results showed that schizotypal traits were associated with poorer quality of life, increased anxiety, depression, and stronger autistic symptoms. However, the relationship between schizotypy and quality of life was mediated by anxiety and depression symptoms.

The study found considerable overlap between schizotypal and autistic traits, suggesting that prominent schizotypal characteristics in people with ASD may represent a specific subtype associated with particularly poor quality of life outcomes.

Clinicians should assess for schizotypal traits in autistic adults, particularly those with poor quality of life. Addressing co-occurring anxiety and depression may be crucial for improving outcomes. The overlap between conditions highlights the need for careful differential diagnosis and personalized treatment approaches.

Study relies on self-report questionnaires which may be subject to bias. Cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences. Sample characteristics and recruitment methods are not fully described in the abstract, limiting generalizability.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizotypal personality disorder can be difficult to distinguish. Deficits in social relationships and social interaction, present in both conditions, are known to impair quality of life. The aim of the present study was to investigate if schizotypal symptoms affect quality of life among adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and to study the association between schizotypy and autistic traits among them. Participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (n = 110) completed questionnaires exploring schizotypy (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire - Brief Revised (SPQ-BR)), autistic traits (The Ritvo Autism, Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised Screen 14 items), anxiety and depression (The Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale) and quality of life (Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Scale and the European quality of life index version 5D).

Schizotypy was found to be associated with anxiety, depressive and autistic symptoms, and poor quality of life. Although schizotypy was a predictor for impaired quality of life, this relationship was mediated by symptoms of anxiety and depression, plausibly inherent to autism. Autistic traits were positively associated with all higher order constructs of the SPQ-BR, i.e. positive and negative schizotypy, disorganization and social anxiety, as well as with poor quality of life. There is considerable overlap between schizotypy and autism that needs to be considered in research.

Prominent schizotypal traits in people with ASD may constitute an endophenotype coinciding with a particularly poor quality of life. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03570372 : Internet-based Treatment for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (MILAS).