About this Research Topic

Background

Schizophrenia (SZ) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are two distinct heterogenous disorders that despite having a different neurodevelopmental onset and differential diagnostic criteria, share phenotypical biomarkers, in addition to both have underlying genetic risk. Individuals with ASD show predominantly social communication deficits with stereotyped repetitive behaviors and individuals with SZ are mostly characterized by delusions and hallucinations as well as negative symptoms, which can be at times confounded with the deficits in social communication in ASD. An area of symptom overlap is in deficits in social communication and social cognition, where both disorders have repeatedly shown shared deficits. Additionally, individuals with ASD may encounter SZ symptoms at higher rates than the non-clinical population and individuals with SZ with high ASD show markedly lower social functioning and deficits in cognitive skills.

Therefore, it is imperative to gather collective knowledge and common research efforts in understanding the distinct and common phenotypical biomarkers and behaviors as well as the underlying genetic bases of these disorders. By understanding and characterizing the distinct endophenotypes within each disorder there can be a better differential diagnosis, as well as the creation of specific treatment customization. All of this with the consideration that individuals may reflect one or several possible endophenotypes of the disorders with the ultimate expectation to predict treatment success, by matching the endophenotype with treatment modality, and maximize efforts for successful social functioning.

The current Research Topic aims to collect research studies, meta-analysis, reviews and study protocols that aim to examine the common and distinct endophenotypes between and within Schizophrenia and Autism including studies that are employing such knowledge for the generation of diagnostic tools and treatment interventions and approaches.

We welcome neuroscientists, psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, neuropsychiatrists, molecular scientists, geneticists, computer scientists and any health care professionals to submit their work to this Research Topic, and encourage your submissions amongst the topic described above, which may include work (but not limited to) on the areas of:

- Neuroimaging in ASD and SZ: Studies examining commonalities and differences in brain structure/function using neuroimaging, as well as structural and functional connectivity.

- Electrophysiological biomarkers specific to ASD and SZ and shared across diagnoses, including studies that use electroencephalogram, Event-Related Potentials, Prepulse Inhibition, magnetoencephalography.

- Genetic bases and risk of ASD and SZ

- Delineation of symptom profiles in ASD and SZ, including a description of symptom endophenotypes within and between groups.

- Social Functional significance of symptom profiles in ASD and SZ

- Examination of basic cognitive and perceptual abilities with ASD and SZ. Studies could also include the relationship between these abilities with social functioning and quality of life.

- Commonalities and differences in ASD and SZ in social cognition using a variety of methods of assessment such as self-report questionnaires but also, experimental tasks, virtual reality and role playing (amongst other methods).

- Original treatment interventions that target to shared symptom domains in ASD and SZ (e.g., social skills, cognitive remediation, virtual reality, psychopharmacological) including approved registered protocols.

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD, Schizophrenia, Genetic, Neurobiological, Behavioral Mechanisms

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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