title: Using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient to Measure Autistic Traits in Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: Interest in the link between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Anorexia Nervosa (AN) has led to estimates of the prevalence of autistic traits in AN. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the use of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) or abbreviated version (AQ-10) to examine whether patients with AN have elevated levels of autistic traits. Seven studies were identified and subsequent meta-analysis indicated that those with AN appear to have significant difficulties of a manner characteristic of ASD, relative to controls. Whilst this analysis supports previous indications of higher prevalence of ASD in AN, the aetiology of these traits remains unclear. Studies using more robust clinical measures of ASD within AN are needed to confirm what self-report measures appear to show.
authors.affiliation: Psychological Medicine, IoPPN, King's College London (KCL), PO59, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Westwood
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders Service, Maudsley Hospital, London, SE5 8AZ, UK.|Department of Psychology, IoPPN, King's College London (KCL), London, UK.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eisler
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London (UCL), London, UK.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mandy
authors.affiliation: Psychological Medicine, IoPPN, King's College London (KCL), PO59, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
authors.forename: Jenni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leppanen
authors.affiliation: Psychological Medicine, IoPPN, King's College London (KCL), PO59, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Treasure
authors.affiliation: Psychological Medicine, IoPPN, King's College London (KCL), PO59, London, SE5 8AF, UK. Kate.Tchanturia@kcl.ac.uk.|Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders Service, Maudsley Hospital, London, SE5 8AZ, UK. Kate.Tchanturia@kcl.ac.uk.|Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia. Kate.Tchanturia@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tchanturia
mesh_terms: D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report
keywords: Anorexia Nervosa; Autism; Autism-Spectrum Quotient; Female; Meta-analysis; Systematic review