title: Brief report: cognitive processing of own emotions in individuals with autistic spectrum disorder and in their relatives.
abstract: Difficulties in the cognitive processing of emotions--including difficulties identifying and describing feelings--are assumed to be an integral part of autism. We studied such difficulties via self-report in 27 high-functioning adults with autistic spectrum disorders, their biological relatives (n = 49), and normal adult controls (n = 35), using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. The individuals with autism spectrum disorders were significantly more impaired in their emotion processing and were more depressed than those in the control and relative groups.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, United Kingdom. e.hill@gold.ac.uk
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berthoz
authors.forename: Uta
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Frith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires