title: Autistic and schizotypal traits and global functioning in bipolar I disorder.
abstract: To determine the expression of autistic and positive schizotypal traits in a large sample of adults with bipolar I disorder (BD I), and the effect of co-occurring autistic and positive schizotypal traits on global functioning in BD I.
  
  
  
  Autistic and positive schizotypal traits were self-assessed in 797 individuals with BD-I recruited by the Bipolar Disorder Research Network. Differences in global functioning (rated using the Global Assessment Scale) during lifetime worst depressive and manic episodes (GASD and GASM respectively) were calculated in groups with high/low autistic and positive schizotypal traits. Regression analyses assessed the interactive effect of autistic and positive schizotypal traits on global functioning.
  
  
  
  47.2% (CI=43.7-50.7%) showed clinically significant levels of autistic traits, and 23.22% (95% CI=20.29-26.14) showed clinically significant levels of positive schizotypal traits. In the worst episode of mania, the high autistic, high positive schizotypal group had better global functioning compared to the other groups. Individual differences analyses showed that high levels of both traits were associated with better global functioning in both mood states.
  
  
  
  Autistic and schizotypal traits were assessed using self-rated questionnaires.
  
  
  
  Expression of autistic and schizotypal traits in adults with BD I is prevalent, and may be important to predict illness aetiology, prognosis, and diagnostic practices in this population. Future work should focus on replicating these findings in independent samples, and on the biological and/or psychosocial mechanisms underlying better global functioning in those who have high levels of both autistic and positive schizotypal traits.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abu-Akel
authors.affiliation: College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forty
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Craddock
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gordon-Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Lisa.Jones@worc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Autism; Global functioning; Psychosis; Schizophrenia; Schizotypy