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Rumination and altered reactivity to sensory input as vulnerability factors for developing post-traumatic stress symptoms among adults with autistic traits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 January 2024

Liliana Dell’Osso ,
Giulia Amatori Open the ORCID record for Giulia Amatori [Opens in a new window] ,
Federico Giovannoni ,
Enrico Massimetti ,
Ivan Mirko Cremone  and
Barbara Carpita Open the ORCID record for Barbara Carpita [Opens in a new window]
Liliana Dell’Osso
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Giulia Amatori*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Federico Giovannoni
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Enrico Massimetti
Affiliation:
UFSMA Val di Cornia, Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest, Pisa, Italy
Ivan Mirko Cremone
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Barbara Carpita
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
*
Corresponding author: Giulia Amatori; Email: g.amatori1992@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective

Recent literature has suggested that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autistic traits (ATs) would be more likely to encounter traumatic events in their lifetime and to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the nature of this relationship has not yet been fully elucidated. The aims of this study were to evaluate the relationship between AT and PTSD and to investigate which specific autistic dimension was more associated with trauma and stress-related symptoms.

Methods

A total of 68 subjects with ASD and 64 healthy controls (HCs) were assessed with the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) and the Trauma and Loss Spectrum (TALS) questionnaires. Statistical analyses included Mann–Whitney U test, chi-square test, calculation of Spearman’s coefficients, and logistic regression analysis.

Results

Patients with significant AT reported a 30% rate of PTSD and higher TALS total and domain scores than HCs, among whom no PTSD was found instead. Significant positive correlations were reported between AdAS Spectrum and TALS-SR scores in the whole sample. AdAS Spectrum total scores were statistically predictive of the presence of PTSD. High scores at AdAS Spectrum Inflexibility and adherence to routine and Restrictive interest and rumination domains were identified as positive predictors of a probable PTSD.

Conclusion

Compared to HCs, subjects with significant AT are more likely to present symptoms of PTSD. In particular, AT related to ruminative thinking, narrow interests, and sensorial reactivity would seem to predict the presence of post-traumatic stress symptomatology.

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorderautistic traitspost-traumatic stress disordersensory reactivityrumination
Type
Original Research
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , April 2024 , pp. 119 - 125
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press

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