title: Exploring the quantitative nature of empathy, systemising and autistic traits using factor mixture modelling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autism research has previously focused on either identifying a latent dimension or searching for subgroups. Research assessing the concurrently categorical and dimensional nature of autism is needed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the latent structure of autism and identify meaningful subgroups in a sample spanning the full spectrum of genetic vulnerability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Factor mixture models were applied to data on empathy, systemising and autistic traits from individuals on the autism spectrum, parents and general population controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A two-factor three-class model was identified, with two factors measuring empathy and systemising. Class one had high systemising and low empathy scores and primarily consisted of individuals with autism. Mainly comprising controls and parents, class three displayed high empathy scores and lower systemising scores, and class two showed balanced scores on both measures of systemising and empathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autism is best understood as a dimensional construct, but meaningful subgroups can be identified based on empathy, systemising and autistic traits.
authors.affiliation: Rachel Grove, PhD, Andrew Baillie, PhD, Department of Psychology, Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Carrie Allison, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK; Simon Baron-Cohen, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK and CLASS Clinic, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK; Rosa A. Hoekstra, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK and Faculty of Science, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK rachel.grove@mq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grove
authors.affiliation: Rachel Grove, PhD, Andrew Baillie, PhD, Department of Psychology, Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Carrie Allison, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK; Simon Baron-Cohen, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK and CLASS Clinic, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK; Rosa A. Hoekstra, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK and Faculty of Science, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baillie
authors.affiliation: Rachel Grove, PhD, Andrew Baillie, PhD, Department of Psychology, Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Carrie Allison, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK; Simon Baron-Cohen, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK and CLASS Clinic, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK; Rosa A. Hoekstra, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK and Faculty of Science, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.affiliation: Rachel Grove, PhD, Andrew Baillie, PhD, Department of Psychology, Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Carrie Allison, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK; Simon Baron-Cohen, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK and CLASS Clinic, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK; Rosa A. Hoekstra, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK and Faculty of Science, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baron-Cohen
authors.affiliation: Rachel Grove, PhD, Andrew Baillie, PhD, Department of Psychology, Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Carrie Allison, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK; Simon Baron-Cohen, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK and CLASS Clinic, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK; Rosa A. Hoekstra, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK and Faculty of Science, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
authors.forename: Rosa A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult