European Psychiatry (Jan 2020)
The influence of autistic symptoms on social and non-social cognition and on real-life functioning in people with schizophrenia: Evidence from the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses multicenter study
- Antonio Vita,
- Stefano Barlati,
- Giacomo Deste,
- Paola Rocca,
- Alessandro Rossi,
- Alessandro Bertolino,
- Eugenio Aguglia,
- Mario Amore,
- Antonello Bellomo,
- Massimo Biondi,
- Bernardo Carpiniello,
- Enrico Collantoni,
- Alessandro Cuomo,
- Enrico D’Ambrosio,
- Liliana dell’ Osso,
- Massimo di Giannantonio,
- Giulia Maria Giordano,
- Carlo Marchesi,
- Palmiero Monteleone,
- Cristiana Montemagni,
- Lucio Oldani,
- Maurizio Pompili,
- Rita Roncone,
- Rodolfo Rossi,
- Alberto Siracusano,
- Patrizia Zeppegno,
- Gabriele Nibbio,
- Silvana Galderisi,
- Mario Maj,
- Italian Network for Research on Psychoses Ceraso Anna University of Brescia Galluzzo Alessandro University of Brescia Lisoni Jacopo University of Brescia Di Palo Piergiuseppe University of Bari Papalino Marco University of Bari Romano Raffaella University of Bari Pinna Federica University of Cagliari Lai Alice University of Cagliari di Santa Sofia Silvia Lostia University of Cagliari Bucci Paola University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli,” Naples Piegari Giuseppe University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli,” Naples Brando Francesco University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli,” Naples Giuliani Luigi University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli,” Naples Signorelli Maria Salvina University of Catania Fusar Poli Laura University of Catania Martinotti Giovanni University of Chieti Pettorruso Mauro University of Chieti Montemitro Chiara University of Chieti Altamura Mario University of Foggia Malerba Stefania University of Foggia Padalino Flavia University of Foggia Amerio Andrea University of Genoa Calcagno Pietro University of Genoa Zampogna Domenico University of Genoa Giusti Laura University of L’Aquila Salza Anna University of L’Aquila Mammarella Silvia University of L’Aquila Pacitti Francesca University of L’Aquila Socci Valentina University of L’Aquila Talevi Dalila University of L’Aquila Gramaglia Carla University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara Feggi Alessandro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara Jona Amalia University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara Favaro Angela University of Padua Tenconi Elena University of Padua Meneguzzo Paolo University of Padua Ossola Paolo University of Parma Tonna Matteo University of Parma Gerra Maria Lidia University of Parma Carmassi Claudia University of Pisa Gesi Camilla University of Pisa Carpita Barbara University of Pisa Corrivetti Giulio Department of Mental Health, Salerno Cascino Giammarco Department of Mental Health, Salerno del Buono Gianfranco Department of Mental Health, Salerno Di Fabio Fabio Sapienza University of Rome Buzzanca Antonio Sapienza University of Rome Girardi Nicoletta Sapienza University of Rome Brugnoli Roberto Sapienza University of Rome Comparelli Anna Sapienza University of Rome Corigliano Valentina Sapienza University of Rome Fagiolini Andrea University of Siena Bolognesi Simone University of Siena Goracci Arianna University of Siena Di Lorenzo Giorgio Tor Vergata University of Rome Niolu Cinzia Tor Vergata University of Rome Ribolsi Michele Tor Vergata University of Rome Brasso Claudio University of Turin Riccardi Cecilia University of Turin Del Favero Elisa University of Turin
Affiliations
- Antonio Vita
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
- Stefano Barlati
- ORCiD
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
- Giacomo Deste
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
- Paola Rocca
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Alessandro Rossi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Alessandro Bertolino
- Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
- Eugenio Aguglia
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, Psychiatry Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Mario Amore
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Antonello Bellomo
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
- Massimo Biondi
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Bernardo Carpiniello
- ORCiD
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Enrico Collantoni
- ORCiD
- Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Alessandro Cuomo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Clinical Department of Mental Health, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Enrico D’Ambrosio
- ORCiD
- Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
- Liliana dell’ Osso
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Massimo di Giannantonio
- Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, G. D’Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- Giulia Maria Giordano
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
- Carlo Marchesi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry Unit, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Palmiero Monteleone
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, Section of Neuroscience, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
- Cristiana Montemagni
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Lucio Oldani
- ORCiD
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, S. Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Rita Roncone
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Rodolfo Rossi
- ORCiD
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Alberto Siracusano
- Department of Systems Medicine, Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology Unit, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Patrizia Zeppegno
- Department of Translational Medicine, Psychiatric Unit, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
- Gabriele Nibbio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Silvana Galderisi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
- Mario Maj
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
- Italian Network for Research on Psychoses Ceraso Anna University of Brescia Galluzzo Alessandro University of Brescia Lisoni Jacopo University of Brescia Di Palo Piergiuseppe University of Bari Papalino Marco University of Bari Romano Raffaella University of Bari Pinna Federica University of Cagliari Lai Alice University of Cagliari di Santa Sofia Silvia Lostia University of Cagliari Bucci Paola University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli,” Naples Piegari Giuseppe University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli,” Naples Brando Francesco University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli,” Naples Giuliani Luigi University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli,” Naples Signorelli Maria Salvina University of Catania Fusar Poli Laura University of Catania Martinotti Giovanni University of Chieti Pettorruso Mauro University of Chieti Montemitro Chiara University of Chieti Altamura Mario University of Foggia Malerba Stefania University of Foggia Padalino Flavia University of Foggia Amerio Andrea University of Genoa Calcagno Pietro University of Genoa Zampogna Domenico University of Genoa Giusti Laura University of L’Aquila Salza Anna University of L’Aquila Mammarella Silvia University of L’Aquila Pacitti Francesca University of L’Aquila Socci Valentina University of L’Aquila Talevi Dalila University of L’Aquila Gramaglia Carla University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara Feggi Alessandro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara Jona Amalia University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara Favaro Angela University of Padua Tenconi Elena University of Padua Meneguzzo Paolo University of Padua Ossola Paolo University of Parma Tonna Matteo University of Parma Gerra Maria Lidia University of Parma Carmassi Claudia University of Pisa Gesi Camilla University of Pisa Carpita Barbara University of Pisa Corrivetti Giulio Department of Mental Health, Salerno Cascino Giammarco Department of Mental Health, Salerno del Buono Gianfranco Department of Mental Health, Salerno Di Fabio Fabio Sapienza University of Rome Buzzanca Antonio Sapienza University of Rome Girardi Nicoletta Sapienza University of Rome Brugnoli Roberto Sapienza University of Rome Comparelli Anna Sapienza University of Rome Corigliano Valentina Sapienza University of Rome Fagiolini Andrea University of Siena Bolognesi Simone University of Siena Goracci Arianna University of Siena Di Lorenzo Giorgio Tor Vergata University of Rome Niolu Cinzia Tor Vergata University of Rome Ribolsi Michele Tor Vergata University of Rome Brasso Claudio University of Turin Riccardi Cecilia University of Turin Del Favero Elisa University of Turin
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.99
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 63
Abstract
Abstract Background Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs), although conceptualized as separate entities, may share some clinical and neurobiological features. ASD symptoms may have a relevant role in determining a more severe clinical presentation of schizophrenic disorder but their relationships with cognitive aspects and functional outcomes of the disease remain to be addressed in large samples of individuals. Aims To investigate the clinical, cognitive, and functional correlates of ASD symptoms in a large sample of people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Methods The severity of ASD symptoms was measured with the PANSS Autism Severity Scale (PAUSS) in 921 individuals recruited for the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses multicenter study. Based on the PAUSS scores, three groups of subjects were compared on a wide array of cognitive and functional measures. Results Subjects with more severe ASD symptoms showed a poorer performance in the processing speed (p = 0.010), attention (p = 0.011), verbal memory (p = 0.035), and social cognition (p = 0.001) domains, and an overall lower global cognitive composite score (p = 0.010). Subjects with more severe ASD symptoms also showed poorer functional capacity (p = 0.004), real-world interpersonal relationships (p < 0.001), and participation in community-living activities (p < 0.001). Conclusions These findings strengthen the notion that ASD symptoms may have a relevant impact on different aspects of the disease, crucial to the life of people with schizophrenia. Prominent ASD symptoms may characterize a specific subpopulation of individuals with SSD.
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