Exploring the Relationship Between Autism and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Erin Kang
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2023 12:30 PM
End Date
26-4-2023 1:30 PM
Description
Introduction: Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is highly prevalent among autistic youth (17%; van Steensel et al., 2011), relative to the general population (0.5-4%; Beesdo-Baum & Knappe, 2012). Given increased distress and behavioral issues in autistic youth associated with this comorbidity, a more fine- grained understanding of the relationship of OCD symptoms and autistic characteristics is warranted. This study examined the relationship between OCD and autism characteristics and explored potential moderators of this relationship. It was hypothesized that OCD symptoms will positively correlate with autism characteristics, particularly with repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests (RRB). Method: Parents of autistic youth (N=17; 77% male; M age =10.43, SD age =3.09) completed measures of OCD symptoms (OCD subscale on MASC-2; March, 2012) and autism characteristics (SRS-2; Constantino, 2012). Pearson correlations examined relations between OCD symptoms and autism characteristics. Age and IQ were examined as potential moderators. Results: There was a large correlation between the MASC-2 OCD symptoms and SRS-2 RRB, r(15)=.50, p=.04; however, OCD symptoms did not relate to the SRS-2 social communication subscale (p=0.16). Further, age and IQ did not moderate this relationship either (p>.28). Discussion: Findings suggest that OCD symptoms in autistic youth relate specifically to RRB, regardless of age and cognitive ability. These results provide insights into shared underlying factors between OCD and RRB or possible diagnostic overlap. Future studies can examine potential moderators such as individual differences in traits (e.g., overcontrol or inflexibility; Gilbert et al., 2020; Lei et al., 2022) to refine treatment targets for autistic youth with co-occurring OCD symptoms.
Exploring the Relationship Between Autism and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms
Introduction: Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is highly prevalent among autistic youth (17%; van Steensel et al., 2011), relative to the general population (0.5-4%; Beesdo-Baum & Knappe, 2012). Given increased distress and behavioral issues in autistic youth associated with this comorbidity, a more fine- grained understanding of the relationship of OCD symptoms and autistic characteristics is warranted. This study examined the relationship between OCD and autism characteristics and explored potential moderators of this relationship. It was hypothesized that OCD symptoms will positively correlate with autism characteristics, particularly with repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests (RRB). Method: Parents of autistic youth (N=17; 77% male; M age =10.43, SD age =3.09) completed measures of OCD symptoms (OCD subscale on MASC-2; March, 2012) and autism characteristics (SRS-2; Constantino, 2012). Pearson correlations examined relations between OCD symptoms and autism characteristics. Age and IQ were examined as potential moderators. Results: There was a large correlation between the MASC-2 OCD symptoms and SRS-2 RRB, r(15)=.50, p=.04; however, OCD symptoms did not relate to the SRS-2 social communication subscale (p=0.16). Further, age and IQ did not moderate this relationship either (p>.28). Discussion: Findings suggest that OCD symptoms in autistic youth relate specifically to RRB, regardless of age and cognitive ability. These results provide insights into shared underlying factors between OCD and RRB or possible diagnostic overlap. Future studies can examine potential moderators such as individual differences in traits (e.g., overcontrol or inflexibility; Gilbert et al., 2020; Lei et al., 2022) to refine treatment targets for autistic youth with co-occurring OCD symptoms.