Autistic trait severity in early schizophrenia: Role in subjective quality of life and social functioning

Ayumu Wada; Risa Yamada; Yuji Yamada; Chika Sumiyoshi; Ryota Hashimoto; Junya Matsumoto; Akiko Kikuchi; Ryotaro Kubota; Makoto Matsui; Kana Nakachi; Chinatsu Fujimaki; Leona Adachi; Andrew Stickley; Naoki Yoshimura; Tomiki Sumiyoshi

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2024.12.003

Autistic trait severity in early schizophrenia: Role in subjective quality of life and social functioning

Schizophr Res. 2024 Dec 24:275:131-136. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.12.003. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Brain Bioregulatory Science, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
² Department of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Department of Forensic Psychiatry, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Department of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Faculty of Human Development and Culture, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan; Department of Pathology of Mental Diseases, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
⁵ Department of Pathology of Mental Diseases, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
⁶ Faculty of Human Sciences, Musashino University, Tokyo, Japan.
⁷ Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
⁸ Department of Psychiatry, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
⁹ Department of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Japan Health Research Promotion Bureau, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39721222
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.12.003

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairment is a cardinal feature in patients with schizophrenia and leads to poor social functioning. Recently, the treatment of schizophrenia has evolved to include the goal of improving quality of life (QoL). However, most of the factors influencing subjective QoL are unknown. Autistic traits have been shown to co-occur with various psychiatric conditions including schizophrenia. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate whether cognitive function and autistic trait severity are associated with social functioning and subjective QoL in patients with early schizophrenia.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 183 outpatients diagnosed with early schizophrenia in Tokyo, Japan. Information was obtained on neurocognition with the Japanese version of the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. Autistic trait severity was assessed using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), while social functioning was measured with the Specific Levels of Functioning Scale Japanese version. Information was obtained on subjective QoL with the Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptic drug treatment Short form, Japanese version. Multiple regression analysis was used to examined associations.

Results: In an analysis adjusted for demographic characteristics (age, sex and education), both autistic trait severity (β = -0.56, p < 0.01) and neurocognitive function (β = 4.37, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with social function. On the other hand, only autistic trait severity made a significant contribution to the prediction of subjective QoL (β = -1.79, p < 0.01).

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that efforts to detect and treat cognitive impairment and comorbid autistic trait in early schizophrenia may be important for improving social functioning and subjective QoL in this population. In particular intervention that targets autistic trait severity seems to be key to achieving personal recovery in patients with schizophrenia.