Exploring the role of autistic traits and eating disorder psychopathology on mentalising ability in the general population

Exploring the role of autistic traits and eating disorder psychopathology on mentalising ability in the general population

This study evaluated the role of overlapping traits and characteristics related to autism spectrum disorder (autism) and anorexia nervosa (AN) in the general population, and the impact of these traits on mentalising ability. A sample of young adults (N = 306), aged 18-25 years, was recruited to comp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC Psychology Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 1 - 269
Main Authors: Fithall, Kate, Gray, Indigo E, Linardon, Jake, Phillipou, Andrea, Donaldson, Peter H, Albein-Urios, Natalia, Enticott, Peter G, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew, Kirkovski, Melissa
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London BioMed Central Ltd 06-09-2023
BioMed Central
BMC
Subjects:
Analysis
Anorexia nervosa
Autism
Biological sex
Care and treatment
Communication
Complications and side effects
Eating disorder
Eating disorders
Female
Females
Health behavior
Likert scale
Medical research
Medicine, Experimental
Mentalizing
Population
Prevention
Psychological aspects
Psychology, Pathological
Psychopathology
Quantitative psychology
Questionnaires
Remission (Medicine)
Risk factors
Social networks
Surveys
Theory of mind
Australia
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Summary:This study evaluated the role of overlapping traits and characteristics related to autism spectrum disorder (autism) and anorexia nervosa (AN) in the general population, and the impact of these traits on mentalising ability. A sample of young adults (N = 306), aged 18-25 years, was recruited to complete an online study that consisted of 4 measures: the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, the Mentalization Scale, and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes task. Higher levels of autistic traits, particularly difficulty with attention switching, were associated with increased eating disorder psychopathology. Overall, autistic traits and eating disorder psychopathology were related among females, but not males. Difficulty with attention switching, however, was related to eating disorder psychopathology among both females and males. Autistic traits also appear to have a greater role in mentalising ability than does eating disorder psychopathology. The role of attention switching in overlapping traits of autism and eating disorder psychopathology needs to be more comprehensively evaluated by future research, as does the role of biological sex. Expanded knowledge in this field will help to better understand and evaluate symptoms at presentation, leading to clearer diagnoses and potentially better treatment outcomes.
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ISSN:2050-7283
2050-7283
DOI:10.1186/s40359-023-01306-z