Grant Jon E, Chamberlain Samuel R
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
CNS Spectr. 2020 Jul 9;21(6):1-6. doi: 10.1017/S1092852920001571.
BACKGROUND.: Little is known about the relationship between autistic traits and addictive behaviors such as problem gambling. Thus, the present study examined clinical characteristics and multiple facets of cognition in young adults who gamble and have autistic traits.
METHODS.: A total of 102 young adults who gamble were recruited from two Mid-Western university communities in the United States using media advertisements. Autistic traits were examined using the brief Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ-10). Clinician rating scales, questionnaires, and cognitive tests were completed. Relationships between AQ10 scores and demographic, gambling symptom, and neurocognitive measures were evaluated.
RESULTS.: Autistic traits were correlated with disordered gambling symptoms, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, trait impulsivity, and some types of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. In regression, ADHD no longer significantly related to autistic traits once disordered gambling symptoms were accounted for; whereas the link between autistic traits and disordered gambling symptoms was robust even controlling for ADHD.
CONCLUSIONS.: These data suggest a particularly strong relationship between autistic traits and problem gambling symptoms, as well as certain aspects of impulsivity and compulsivity. The link between ADHD and autistic traits in some prior studies may have been attributable to disordered gambling symptoms, which was likely not screened for, and since individuals may endorse ADHD instruments due to other impulsive/compulsive symptom types (eg, gambling). The contribution of autistic traits to the emergence and chronicity of disordered gambling now requires further scrutiny, not only in community samples (such as this) but also in clinical settings.
关于自闭症特质与成瘾行为（如问题赌博）之间的关系，人们了解甚少。因此，本研究调查了有赌博行为且具有自闭症特质的年轻成年人的临床特征和认知的多个方面。
通过媒体广告从美国中西部两个大学社区招募了总共102名有赌博行为的年轻成年人。使用简短自闭症谱系商数（AQ - 10）来检测自闭症特质。完成了临床评定量表、问卷调查和认知测试。评估了AQ10得分与人口统计学、赌博症状和神经认知指标之间的关系。
自闭症特质与无序赌博症状、注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）症状、特质冲动性以及某些类型的强迫症状相关。在回归分析中，一旦考虑了无序赌博症状，ADHD与自闭症特质不再显著相关；而即使控制了ADHD，自闭症特质与无序赌博症状之间的联系仍然很强。
这些数据表明自闭症特质与问题赌博症状以及冲动性和强迫性的某些方面之间存在特别强的关系。先前一些研究中ADHD与自闭症特质之间的联系可能归因于无序赌博症状，而这可能未被筛查，并且由于个体可能因其他冲动/强迫症状类型（如赌博）而认可ADHD量表。自闭症特质对无序赌博的出现和慢性化的影响现在需要进一步研究，不仅在社区样本（如此处的样本）中，而且在临床环境中。
