Exploring the quantitative nature of empathy, systemising and autistic traits using factor mixture modelling

TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploring the quantitative nature of empathy, systemising and autistic traits using factor mixture modelling

AU - Grove, Rachel

AU - Baillie, Andrew

AU - Allison, Carrie

AU - Baron-Cohen, Simon

AU - Hoekstra, Rosa A

N1 - © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2015.

PY - 2015/11

Y1 - 2015/11

N2 - BackgroundAutism research has previously focused on either identifying a latent dimension or searching for subgroups. Research assessing the concurrently categorical and dimensional nature of autism is needed.AimsTo investigate the latent structure of autism and identify meaningful subgroups in a sample spanning the full spectrum of genetic vulnerability.MethodFactor mixture models were applied to data on empathy, systemising and autistic traits from individuals on the autism spectrum, parents and general population controls.ResultsA two-factor three-class model was identified, with two factors measuring empathy and systemising. Class one had high systemising and low empathy scores and primarily consisted of individuals with autism. Mainly comprising controls and parents, class three displayed high empathy scores and lower systemising scores, and class two showed balanced scores on both measures of systemising and empathy.ConclusionsAutism is best understood as a dimensional construct, but meaningful subgroups can be identified based on empathy, systemising and autistic traits.

AB - BackgroundAutism research has previously focused on either identifying a latent dimension or searching for subgroups. Research assessing the concurrently categorical and dimensional nature of autism is needed.AimsTo investigate the latent structure of autism and identify meaningful subgroups in a sample spanning the full spectrum of genetic vulnerability.MethodFactor mixture models were applied to data on empathy, systemising and autistic traits from individuals on the autism spectrum, parents and general population controls.ResultsA two-factor three-class model was identified, with two factors measuring empathy and systemising. Class one had high systemising and low empathy scores and primarily consisted of individuals with autism. Mainly comprising controls and parents, class three displayed high empathy scores and lower systemising scores, and class two showed balanced scores on both measures of systemising and empathy.ConclusionsAutism is best understood as a dimensional construct, but meaningful subgroups can be identified based on empathy, systemising and autistic traits.

U2 - 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.155101

DO - 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.155101

M3 - Article

C2 - 26382949

SN - 0007-1250

VL - 207

SP - 400

EP - 406

JO - British Journal of Psychiatry

JF - British Journal of Psychiatry

IS - 5

ER -