Using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient to Measure Autistic Traits in Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Heather Westwood; Ivan Eisler; William Mandy; Jenni Leppanen; Janet Treasure; Kate Tchanturia

doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2641-0

Using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient to Measure Autistic Traits in Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Heather Westwood, Ivan Eisler, William Mandy, Jenni Leppanen, Janet Treasure, Kate Tchanturia

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

110 Citations (Scopus)

286 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Interest in the link between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Anorexia Nervosa (AN) has led to estimates of the prevalence of autistic traits in AN. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the use of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) or abbreviated version (AQ-10) to examine whether patients with AN have elevated levels of autistic traits. Seven studies were identified and subsequent meta-analysis indicated that those with AN appear to have significant difficulties of a manner characteristic of ASD, relative to controls. Whilst this analysis supports previous indications of higher prevalence of ASD in AN, the aetiology of these traits remains unclear. Studies using more robust clinical measures of ASD within AN are needed to confirm what self-report measures appear to show.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	964-977
Number of pages	14
Journal	Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volume	46
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2641-0
Publication status	Published - 5 Nov 2015

Access to Document

10.1007/s10803-015-2641-0Licence: CC BY

art_10.1007_s10803-015-2641-0Final published version, 1.22 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{7b6f2032cb3d4b2284f44e1854c1effc,

title = "Using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient to Measure Autistic Traits in Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis",

abstract = "Interest in the link between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Anorexia Nervosa (AN) has led to estimates of the prevalence of autistic traits in AN. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the use of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) or abbreviated version (AQ-10) to examine whether patients with AN have elevated levels of autistic traits. Seven studies were identified and subsequent meta-analysis indicated that those with AN appear to have significant difficulties of a manner characteristic of ASD, relative to controls. Whilst this analysis supports previous indications of higher prevalence of ASD in AN, the aetiology of these traits remains unclear. Studies using more robust clinical measures of ASD within AN are needed to confirm what self-report measures appear to show.",

author = "Heather Westwood and Ivan Eisler and William Mandy and Jenni Leppanen and Janet Treasure and Kate Tchanturia",

year = "2015",

month = nov,

day = "5",

doi = "10.1007/s10803-015-2641-0",

language = "English",

volume = "46",

pages = "964--977",

journal = "Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders",

issn = "0162-3257",

publisher = "Springer",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient to Measure Autistic Traits in Anorexia Nervosa

T2 - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

AU - Westwood, Heather

AU - Eisler, Ivan

AU - Mandy, William

AU - Leppanen, Jenni

AU - Treasure, Janet

AU - Tchanturia, Kate

PY - 2015/11/5

Y1 - 2015/11/5

N2 - Interest in the link between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Anorexia Nervosa (AN) has led to estimates of the prevalence of autistic traits in AN. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the use of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) or abbreviated version (AQ-10) to examine whether patients with AN have elevated levels of autistic traits. Seven studies were identified and subsequent meta-analysis indicated that those with AN appear to have significant difficulties of a manner characteristic of ASD, relative to controls. Whilst this analysis supports previous indications of higher prevalence of ASD in AN, the aetiology of these traits remains unclear. Studies using more robust clinical measures of ASD within AN are needed to confirm what self-report measures appear to show.

AB - Interest in the link between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Anorexia Nervosa (AN) has led to estimates of the prevalence of autistic traits in AN. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the use of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) or abbreviated version (AQ-10) to examine whether patients with AN have elevated levels of autistic traits. Seven studies were identified and subsequent meta-analysis indicated that those with AN appear to have significant difficulties of a manner characteristic of ASD, relative to controls. Whilst this analysis supports previous indications of higher prevalence of ASD in AN, the aetiology of these traits remains unclear. Studies using more robust clinical measures of ASD within AN are needed to confirm what self-report measures appear to show.

U2 - 10.1007/s10803-015-2641-0

DO - 10.1007/s10803-015-2641-0

M3 - Article

C2 - 26542816

SN - 0162-3257

VL - 46

SP - 964

EP - 977

JO - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

JF - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

IS - 3

ER -

Using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient to Measure Autistic Traits in Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this