University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Autism. 2012 May;16(3):306-20. doi: 10.1177/1362361311401763. Epub 2011 Jun 24.
A preoccupation with restricted interests (RI) is a core symptom of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Engagement in RI is commonly observed in this population and impacts social, adaptive, and emotional functioning. The presence of anxiety disorders and overlap in symptom expression with RI, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), in children with ASD suggests a possible link between anxiety and the RI manifestation. RI play a multidimensional role in ASD and have been described as being expressed in multiple forms, such as fact collection or the enactment of RI through play. However, there is little research exploring in more detail the possible relationship between RI expression and anxiety. To explore the association between RI expression and anxiety, the current study examined the association between the various modes of RI expression and anxiety disorder symptoms in 68 elementary-aged children diagnosed with high-functioning ASD. Findings indicated that symbolic enactment of RI in the form of play, rather than information collection or time engaged in RI, was significantly linked with the increased presence and severity of anxiety symptoms. The conceptualization of RI as possible maladaptive coping responses to negative emotional experiences is discussed.
对狭隘兴趣的过分关注（RI）是自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的核心症状之一。在 ASD 患者中，普遍存在对 RI 的关注，这会影响社交、适应和情感功能。焦虑障碍的存在以及与 RI 表达的重叠，如强迫症（OCD），表明焦虑与 RI 表现之间可能存在联系。RI 在 ASD 中具有多维作用，并被描述为以多种形式表现出来，例如事实收集或通过游戏来表现 RI。然而，很少有研究更详细地探讨 RI 表达和焦虑之间的可能关系。为了探讨 RI 表达与焦虑之间的关系，本研究检查了 68 名被诊断为高功能 ASD 的学龄儿童的 RI 表达的各种模式与焦虑障碍症状之间的关联。研究结果表明，以游戏形式表现出的象征性 RI 表达，而不是信息收集或参与 RI 的时间，与焦虑症状的增加和严重程度显著相关。讨论了将 RI 概念化为对负面情绪体验的适应不良应对的可能性。
