Differences in daily life executive functioning between people with autism and people with schizophrenia.

This study compared daily life executive functioning (brain skills like planning, organizing, and controlling impulses) between people with autism and schizophrenia. Both groups struggled with motivation and self-control, but people with autism had more severe problems with organization and impulsivity. For autistic individuals, executive functioning difficulties directly affected their daily living skills and independence.

This comparative study examined everyday executive functioning challenges in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD) using the Dysexecutive Questionnaire-Spanish (DEX-Sp). Results revealed both shared and distinct patterns of difficulties between groups. Both ASD and SSD participants showed problems with disinhibition and apathy compared to controls. However, disorganization and impulsivity were particularly severe in the ASD group only.

Importantly, executive dysfunction predicted adaptive behavior outcomes specifically in individuals with ASD, but not in the SSD group. The findings suggest the DEX-Sp may be valuable for identifying specific areas of strength and weakness in these clinical populations.

The DEX-Sp may help clinicians identify specific executive functioning profiles in autism versus other conditions. Results suggest that addressing executive dysfunction, particularly disorganization and impulsivity, may be crucial for improving adaptive functioning in autistic individuals.

Study type and methodology are unspecified in the abstract. Sample size is not reported, limiting assessment of statistical power. Cross-cultural validity of the Spanish version of the assessment tool may affect generalizability to other populations.

This is a comparative analysis of everyday executive functioning between individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD) and controls using Dysexecutive Questionnaire-Spanish (DEX-Sp), to identify patterns of difficulties. Also we assessed the relationship between EF and adaptive behavior as measured by the Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scale-II. Common areas of everyday executive functions were established as problematic in individuals with ASD and SSD related to Disinhibition and Apathy, while Disorganization and Impulsivity was gravely affected in ASD group only. The degree of Dysexecutive Syndrome was predictive of adaptive behavior in ASD group only.

These suggest that DEX-Sp could be a useful tool in differentiating areas of strength and weaknesses in clinical groups such as ASD and SDD.