Cole Richard H, Elmalem Michael S, Petrochilos Panayiota
IoPPN Department of Psychological Medicine, UK.
Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, Box 95, London WC1N 3BG, UK; High-Dimensional Neurology, UCL IoN, Queen Square, Box 19, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
J Neurol Sci. 2023 Mar 15;446:120585. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2023.120585. Epub 2023 Feb 12.
In a cohort of adults with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), we aim to: METHODS: 91 patients participating in a FND 5-week outpatient program completed baseline self-report questionnaires for total phobia, somatic symptom severity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia. Patients were grouped by Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ-10) score of <6 or ≥ 6 and compared for significant differences in tested variables. This analysis was repeated with patients grouped by alexithymia status. Simple effects were tested using pairwise comparisons. Multistep regression models tested direct relationships between autistic traits and psychiatric comorbidity scores, and mediation by alexithymia.
36 patients (40%) were AQ-10 positive (scoring ≥6 on AQ-10). A further 36 patients (across AQ-10 positive and AQ-10 negative groups) (40%) screened positive for alexithymia. AQ-10 positive patients scored significantly higher for alexithymia, depression, generalised anxiety, social phobia, ADHD, and dyslexia. Alexithymia positive patients scored significantly higher for generalised anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms severity, social phobia, and dyslexia. Alexithymia score was found to mediate the relationship between autistic trait and depression scores.
We demonstrate a high proportion of autistic and alexithymic traits, in adults with FND. A higher prevalence of autistic traits may highlight a need for specialised communication approaches in FND management. Mechanistic conclusions are limited. Future research could explore links with interoceptive data.
在一组患有功能性神经障碍（FND）的成年人中，我们旨在：方法：91名参与FND为期5周门诊项目的患者完成了关于总体恐惧症、躯体症状严重程度、注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）和诵读困难的基线自我报告问卷。患者根据自闭症谱系商数（AQ - 10）得分<6或≥6进行分组，并比较测试变量的显著差异。对按述情障碍状态分组的患者重复此分析。使用成对比较检验简单效应。多步回归模型检验自闭症特征与精神共病评分之间的直接关系，以及述情障碍的中介作用。
36名患者（40%）AQ - 10呈阳性（AQ - 10得分≥6）。另有36名患者（包括AQ - 10阳性和AQ - 10阴性组）（40%）述情障碍筛查呈阳性。AQ - 10阳性患者在述情障碍、抑郁、广泛性焦虑、社交恐惧症、ADHD和诵读困难方面得分显著更高。述情障碍阳性患者在广泛性焦虑、抑郁、躯体症状严重程度、社交恐惧症和诵读困难方面得分显著更高。发现述情障碍得分介导了自闭症特征与抑郁评分之间的关系。
我们证明在患有FND的成年人中，自闭症和述情障碍特征的比例很高。自闭症特征的较高患病率可能突出了在FND管理中需要专门的沟通方法。机制性结论有限。未来的研究可以探索与内感受数据的联系。
