AUTHOR=Dell’Osso Liliana , Amatori Giulia , Carpita Barbara , Massimetti Gabriele , Nardi Benedetta , Gravina Davide , Benedetti Francesca , Bonelli Chiara , Casagrande Danila , Luciano Mario , Berardelli Isabella , Brondino Natascia , De Gregorio Marianna , Deste Giacomo , Nola Marta , Reitano Antonino , Muscatello Maria Rosaria Anna , Pompili Maurizio , Politi Pierluigi , Vita Antonio , Maj Mario TITLE=The mediating effect of mood spectrum on the relationship between autistic traits and catatonia spectrum JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry VOLUME=14 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1092193 DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1092193 ISSN=1664-0640 ABSTRACT=Background

In the recent years, several studies have shown a correlation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and catatonia. It is also known that both conditions are found to be associated with mood disorders. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between autistic traits and catatonic symptoms, as well as the potential mediating role of mood disorder spectrum in the relationship between them.

Methods

The total sample of 514 subjects was composed by four diagnostic groups, composed by patients affected by catatonia (CTN), borderline personality disorder (BPD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HC). Subjects were assessed with the SCID-5-RV, the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) and the Catatonia Spectrum (CS) and the Mood Spectrum Self-Report (MOODS-SR). Statistical analyses included Pearson’s coefficient calculation, multiple linear regression, and mediation analysis.

Results

all the correlations appear to be strongly positive and significant with the strongest coefficient emerging between AdAS Spectrum total score and CS total score (r = 0.762, p < 0.001). The Mediation Analysis showed that AdAS Spectrum total score showed a significant indirect effect on CS total score through MOODS-SR total score (b = 0.168, 95% bootstrapped CI [0.127:0.207]).

Conclusion

The present study highlights the presence of a mediating role of the mood disorder spectrum in the relationship between autistic traits and the catatonia spectrum.