Autistic Cognition: Charting Routes to Anxiety

Eloise Stark; James Stacey; Will Mandy; Morten L. Kringelbach; Francesca Happé

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2021.03.014

Autistic Cognition: Charting Routes to Anxiety

Eloise Stark^*, James Stacey, Will Mandy, Morten L. Kringelbach, Francesca Happé

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

49 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Conditions are typified by a divergence in cognitive style from that of the non-autistic population. Cognitive differences in autism may underlie significant strengths, but also increase vulnerability to psychopathology such as anxiety, which is a major problem for many autistic people. Many autistic people also do not respond to typical psychotherapeutic interventions, suggesting that autism-specific models and interventions are needed. We advance a theoretical model explaining how three constructs, attenuated predictions, intolerance of uncertainty, and ‘black and white thinking’, may interact to lead to anxiety in autism. We hope to start a dialogue surrounding how we can best address specific autistic cognitive differences that may lead to distress by developing appropriate models, measurements, and psychotherapeutic interventions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	571-581
Number of pages	11
Journal	TRENDS IN COGNITIVE SCIENCES
Volume	25
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2021.03.014
Publication status	Published - Jul 2021

Keywords

anxiety
autism
black and white thinking
cognition
intolerance of uncertainty
predictive processing

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10.1016/j.tics.2021.03.014

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title = "Autistic Cognition: Charting Routes to Anxiety",

abstract = "Autism Spectrum Conditions are typified by a divergence in cognitive style from that of the non-autistic population. Cognitive differences in autism may underlie significant strengths, but also increase vulnerability to psychopathology such as anxiety, which is a major problem for many autistic people. Many autistic people also do not respond to typical psychotherapeutic interventions, suggesting that autism-specific models and interventions are needed. We advance a theoretical model explaining how three constructs, attenuated predictions, intolerance of uncertainty, and {\textquoteleft}black and white thinking{\textquoteright}, may interact to lead to anxiety in autism. We hope to start a dialogue surrounding how we can best address specific autistic cognitive differences that may lead to distress by developing appropriate models, measurements, and psychotherapeutic interventions.",

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author = "Eloise Stark and James Stacey and Will Mandy and Kringelbach, {Morten L.} and Francesca Happ{\'e}",

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T1 - Autistic Cognition

T2 - Charting Routes to Anxiety

AU - Stark, Eloise

AU - Stacey, James

AU - Mandy, Will

AU - Kringelbach, Morten L.

AU - Happé, Francesca

PY - 2021/7

Y1 - 2021/7

N2 - Autism Spectrum Conditions are typified by a divergence in cognitive style from that of the non-autistic population. Cognitive differences in autism may underlie significant strengths, but also increase vulnerability to psychopathology such as anxiety, which is a major problem for many autistic people. Many autistic people also do not respond to typical psychotherapeutic interventions, suggesting that autism-specific models and interventions are needed. We advance a theoretical model explaining how three constructs, attenuated predictions, intolerance of uncertainty, and ‘black and white thinking’, may interact to lead to anxiety in autism. We hope to start a dialogue surrounding how we can best address specific autistic cognitive differences that may lead to distress by developing appropriate models, measurements, and psychotherapeutic interventions.

AB - Autism Spectrum Conditions are typified by a divergence in cognitive style from that of the non-autistic population. Cognitive differences in autism may underlie significant strengths, but also increase vulnerability to psychopathology such as anxiety, which is a major problem for many autistic people. Many autistic people also do not respond to typical psychotherapeutic interventions, suggesting that autism-specific models and interventions are needed. We advance a theoretical model explaining how three constructs, attenuated predictions, intolerance of uncertainty, and ‘black and white thinking’, may interact to lead to anxiety in autism. We hope to start a dialogue surrounding how we can best address specific autistic cognitive differences that may lead to distress by developing appropriate models, measurements, and psychotherapeutic interventions.

KW - anxiety

KW - autism

KW - black and white thinking

KW - cognition

KW - intolerance of uncertainty

KW - predictive processing

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U2 - 10.1016/j.tics.2021.03.014

DO - 10.1016/j.tics.2021.03.014

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85105289201

SN - 1364-6613

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JO - TRENDS IN COGNITIVE SCIENCES

JF - TRENDS IN COGNITIVE SCIENCES

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ER -

Autistic Cognition: Charting Routes to Anxiety

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