title: Overlap between autistic and schizotypal personality traits is not accounted for by anxiety and depression.
abstract: Autism spectrum and schizophrenia spectrum disorders are classified separately in the DSM-5, yet research indicates that these two disorders share overlapping features. The aim of the present study was to examine the overlap between autistic and schizotypal personality traits and whether anxiety and depression act as confounding variables in this relationship within a non-clinical population. One hundred and forty-four adults completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21. A number of associations were seen between autistic and schizotypal personality traits. However, negative traits were the only schizotypal feature to uniquely predict global autistic traits, thus highlighting the importance of interpersonal qualities in the overlap of autistic and schizotypal characteristics. The inclusion of anxiety and depression did not alter relationships between autistic and schizotypal traits, indicating that anxiety and depression are not confounders of this relationship. These findings have important implications for the conceptualisation of both disorders.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mealey
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia. Electronic address: linda.byrne@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Linda K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGillivray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anxiety; Autism spectrum disorder; Autistic personality traits; Depression; Schizotypal traits; Schizotypy