title: Autistic traits and abnormal sensory experiences in adults.
abstract: Sensory processing abnormalities are common in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and now form part of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th Edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria, but it is unclear whether they characterize the 'broader phenotype' of the disorder. We recruited adults (n = 772) with and without an ASD and administered the Autism Quotient (AQ) along with the Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile (AASP), the Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS), and the Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire (GSQ), all questionnaire measures of abnormal sensory responsivity. Autism traits were significantly correlated with scores on all three sensory scales (AQ/GSQ r = 0.478; AQ/AASP r = 0.344; AQ/CAPS r = 0.333; all p < 0.001). This relationship was linear across the whole range of AQ scores and was true both in those with, and without, an ASD diagnosis. It survived correction for anxiety trait scores, and other potential confounds such as mental illness and migraine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, PO Box 50, London, SE5 8AF, UK, jamie.horder@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horder
authors.forename: C Ellie
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: M Andreina
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: Declan G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D010641:Phenotype; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult