Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge University, 18B Trumpington Rd, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK.
Mol Autism. 2013 Jul 31;4(1):24. doi: 10.1186/2040-2392-4-24.
Patients with anorexia may have elevated autistic traits. In this study, we tested test whether patients with anorexia nervosa (anorexia) have an elevated score on a dimensional measure of autistic traits, the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), as well as on trait measures relevant to the autism spectrum: the Empathy Quotient (EQ), and the Systemizing Quotient (SQ).
Two groups were tested: (1) female adolescents with anorexia: n = 66, aged 12 to 18 years; and (2) female adolescents without anorexia: n =1,609, aged 12 to 18 years. Both groups were tested using the AQ, EQ, and SQ, via the parent-report adolescent versions for patients aged 12 to 15 years old, and the self-report adult versions for patients aged over 16 years.
As predicted, the patients with anorexia had a higher AQ and SQ. Their EQ score was reduced, but only for the parent-report version in the younger age group. Using EQ-SQ scores to calculate 'cognitive types', patients with anorexia were more likely to show the Type S profile (systemizing (S) better than empathy (E)), compared with typical females.
Females with anorexia have elevated autistic traits. Clinicians should consider if a focus on autistic traits might be helpful in the assessment and treatment of anorexia. Future research needs to establish if these results reflect traits or states associated with anorexia.
厌食症患者可能具有较高的自闭症特征。在这项研究中，我们测试了厌食症患者（厌食症）是否在自闭症谱系的维度测量上的自闭症特征得分较高，即自闭症谱系商数（AQ），以及与自闭症谱系相关的特质测量上得分较高：同理心商数（EQ）和系统商数（SQ）。
测试了两组：（1）厌食症的女性青少年：n = 66，年龄 12 至 18 岁；（2）无厌食症的女性青少年：n = 1609，年龄 12 至 18 岁。两组均通过父母报告的青少年版（12 至 15 岁）和自我报告的成年版（16 岁以上）测试 AQ、EQ 和 SQ。
正如预测的那样，厌食症患者的 AQ 和 SQ 较高。他们的 EQ 分数降低，但仅在年龄较小的组中通过父母报告的版本降低。使用 EQ-SQ 分数来计算“认知类型”，与典型女性相比，厌食症患者更有可能表现出 S 型（系统（S）优于同理心（E））。
厌食症女性具有较高的自闭症特征。临床医生应考虑是否关注自闭症特征可能有助于厌食症的评估和治疗。未来的研究需要确定这些结果是否反映了与厌食症相关的特质或状态。
