Schizotypal Traits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Impact on Social, Emotional and Behavioral Functioning
<b>Background:</b> Schizotypal traits are considered to be clinical and cognitive features of Schizotypal Disorder in children (SDc). These traits are also seen in children and adolescents with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study examines the influence of schizoty...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Evdokia Tagkouli Evangelia Chrysanthi Kouklari Bruce J. Tonge Vassiliki Ntre Artemios Pehlivanidis Nikos C. Stefanis Christos Pantelis Katerina Papanikolaou |
| author_facet | Evdokia Tagkouli Evangelia Chrysanthi Kouklari Bruce J. Tonge Vassiliki Ntre Artemios Pehlivanidis Nikos C. Stefanis Christos Pantelis Katerina Papanikolaou |
| author_sort | Evdokia Tagkouli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> Schizotypal traits are considered to be clinical and cognitive features of Schizotypal Disorder in children (SDc). These traits are also seen in children and adolescents with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study examines the influence of schizotypal traits (and their severity) on the capacity of children with ASD to manage emotions, develop relationships with others, and adapt in school and family life. <b>Methods:</b> The Schizotypal traits of 63 children (6–12 years old) with High Functioning ASD were measured by the Melbourne Assessment of Schizotypy in Kids (MASK). Parents and teachers of the participating children completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teachers’ Report Form (TRF) from the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). <b>Results:</b> Overall, the results indicated correlations between the MASK scores and problems recorded by teachers, such as Internalizing problems (i.e., Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn/Depressed, and Other problems score) according to TRF and Inappropriate speech scores, according to teacher’s ABC scales. Schizotypal traits impact the social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children with ASD at home and school environments. <b>Conclusions:</b> The assessment of schizotypal traits in children with ASD provides critical information about a child’s functionality and cognitive development, also leading to the identification of potential cognitive-neuropsychological endophenotypes within ASD with characteristics of both Autism and Schizophrenia spectra. Τhe development of a valid assessment tool is required, as well as the design of targeted interventions to prevent the loss of functionality. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4c28bd9b84544e27b7ce82e08c28f49a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-4c28bd9b84544e27b7ce82e08c28f49a2025-08-20T02:45:45ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252025-06-0115766810.3390/brainsci15070668Schizotypal Traits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Impact on Social, Emotional and Behavioral FunctioningEvdokia Tagkouli0Evangelia Chrysanthi Kouklari1Bruce J. Tonge2Vassiliki Ntre3Artemios Pehlivanidis4Nikos C. Stefanis5Christos Pantelis6Katerina Papanikolaou7Department of Child Psychiatry, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Child Psychiatry, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, GreeceCentre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, AustraliaAghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece1st Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, 115 28 Athens, Greece1st Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, 115 28 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaDepartment of Child Psychiatry, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece<b>Background:</b> Schizotypal traits are considered to be clinical and cognitive features of Schizotypal Disorder in children (SDc). These traits are also seen in children and adolescents with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study examines the influence of schizotypal traits (and their severity) on the capacity of children with ASD to manage emotions, develop relationships with others, and adapt in school and family life. <b>Methods:</b> The Schizotypal traits of 63 children (6–12 years old) with High Functioning ASD were measured by the Melbourne Assessment of Schizotypy in Kids (MASK). Parents and teachers of the participating children completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teachers’ Report Form (TRF) from the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). <b>Results:</b> Overall, the results indicated correlations between the MASK scores and problems recorded by teachers, such as Internalizing problems (i.e., Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn/Depressed, and Other problems score) according to TRF and Inappropriate speech scores, according to teacher’s ABC scales. Schizotypal traits impact the social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children with ASD at home and school environments. <b>Conclusions:</b> The assessment of schizotypal traits in children with ASD provides critical information about a child’s functionality and cognitive development, also leading to the identification of potential cognitive-neuropsychological endophenotypes within ASD with characteristics of both Autism and Schizophrenia spectra. Τhe development of a valid assessment tool is required, as well as the design of targeted interventions to prevent the loss of functionality.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/7/668autism spectrum disorderschizotypysocial functioningemotional functioningbehavioral functioning |
| spellingShingle | Evdokia Tagkouli Evangelia Chrysanthi Kouklari Bruce J. Tonge Vassiliki Ntre Artemios Pehlivanidis Nikos C. Stefanis Christos Pantelis Katerina Papanikolaou Schizotypal Traits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Impact on Social, Emotional and Behavioral Functioning Brain Sciences autism spectrum disorder schizotypy social functioning emotional functioning behavioral functioning |
| title | Schizotypal Traits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Impact on Social, Emotional and Behavioral Functioning |
| title_full | Schizotypal Traits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Impact on Social, Emotional and Behavioral Functioning |
| title_fullStr | Schizotypal Traits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Impact on Social, Emotional and Behavioral Functioning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Schizotypal Traits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Impact on Social, Emotional and Behavioral Functioning |
| title_short | Schizotypal Traits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Impact on Social, Emotional and Behavioral Functioning |
| title_sort | schizotypal traits in children with autism spectrum disorder and the impact on social emotional and behavioral functioning |
| topic | autism spectrum disorder schizotypy social functioning emotional functioning behavioral functioning |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/7/668 |
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