Cluster analysis reveals subclinical subgroups with shared autistic and schizotypal traits

Talitha C Ford; Pragalathan Apputhurai; Denny Meyer; David P Crewther

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2018.04.037

Cluster analysis reveals subclinical subgroups with shared autistic and schizotypal traits

Psychiatry Res. 2018 Jul:265:111-117. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.04.037. Epub 2018 Apr 14.

Authors

Talitha C Ford¹, Pragalathan Apputhurai², Denny Meyer³, David P Crewther⁴

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Heath, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: tcford@swin.edu.au.
² Department of Statistics, Data Science and Epidemiology, Faculty of Heath, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
³ Department of Statistics, Data Science and Epidemiology, Faculty of Heath, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Mental Health, Faculty of Heath, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Heath, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 29702302
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.04.037

Abstract

Autism and schizophrenia spectrum research is typically based on coarse diagnostic classification, which overlooks individual variation within clinical groups. This method limits the identification of underlying cognitive, genetic and neural correlates of specific symptom dimensions. This study, therefore, aimed to identify homogenous subclinical subgroups of specific autistic and schizotypal traits dimensions, that may be utilised to establish more effective diagnostic and treatment practices. Latent profile analysis of subscale scores derived from an autism-schizotypy questionnaire, completed by 1678 subclinical adults aged 18-40 years (1250 females), identified a local optimum of eight population clusters: High, Moderate and Low Psychosocial Difficulties; High, Moderate and Low Autism-Schizotypy; High Psychosis-Proneness; and Moderate Schizotypy. These subgroups represent the convergent and discriminant dimensions of autism and schizotypy in the subclinical population, and highlight the importance of examining subgroups of specific symptom characteristics across these spectra in order to identify the underlying genetic and neural correlates that can be utilised to advance diagnostic and treatment practices.

Keywords: Autism; Autism spectrum quotient; Cluster analysis; Schizotypal personality questionnaire; Schizotypy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Autistic Disorder / diagnosis*
Autistic Disorder / psychology*
Cluster Analysis
Female
Humans
Male
Schizotypal Personality Disorder / diagnosis*
Schizotypal Personality Disorder / psychology*
Surveys and Questionnaires*
Young Adult