The validity of using self-reports to assess emotion regulation abilities in adults with autism spectrum disorder

Purpose. – The current paper focused on the validity of using self-reports to assess emotion regulation abilities in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). To assess this we sought responses to two alexithymia self-reports and a depression self-report at two time points from adults with and without ASD. Materials and methods. – An initial sample of 27 adults withASD and 35 normal adults completed the 20-item Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-20), the Bermond and Vorst alexithymia questionnaire-form B (BVAQ-B), and the Beck depression inventory (BDI), at test time 1. Of these individuals, 19 ASD and 29 controls participated again after a period ranging from 4 to 12 months. Results. – ASD participants were able to report about their own emotions using self-reports. BVAQ-B showed reasonable convergent validity and test–retest reliability in both groups. Scores on both alexithymia scales were stable across the two participant groups. However, results revealed that although the TAS-20 total score discriminated between the two groups at both time points, the BVAQ-B total score did not. Moreover, the TAS-20 showed stronger test–retest reliability than the BVAQ-B. Conclusion. – ASD participants appeared more depressed and more alexithymic than the controls. The use of the BVAQ-B, as an additional assessment of alexithymia, indicated that ASD patients have a specific type of alexithymia characterised by increased difficulties in the cognitive domain rather than the affective aspects of alexithymia

Brief Report: Cognitive Processing of Own Emotions in Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and in Their Relatives

Difficulties in the cognitive processing of emotions—including difficulties identifying and describing feelings—are assumed to be an integral part of autism. We studied such difficulties via self-report in 27 high-functioning adults with autistic spectrum disorders, their biological relatives (n = 49), and normal adult controls (n = 35), using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. The individuals with autism spectrum disorders were significantly more impaired in their emotion processing and were more depressed than those in the control and relative groups

Difficultés socio-affectives dans l'anorexie mentale (impact sur la sévérité du trouble et comparaison avec le syndrome d'Asperger)

Cette recherche porte sur l impact et la caractérisation des difficultés socio-affectives dans l anorexie mentale (AM). Les difficultés intéroceptives et introspectives, telles qu appréhendées par des mesures d alexithymie, pourraient être liées à la sévérité des tableaux cliniques des AM et impacter non seulement leur état somatique mais également leur fonctionnement interpersonnel. Par ailleurs l alexithymie et l évitement social sont des déficits retrouvés dans les troubles du spectre autistique. L Institut de Psychiatrie de Londres a d ailleurs proposé un modèle mettant en cause un partage d endophénotypes entre ces troubles et l anorexie mentale qui rendrait compte de leur chevauchement phénotypique. Le manque de flexibilité et de cohérence centrale font l objet d une littérature grandissante et semblent bien être commun aux deux pathologies. Des difficultés socio-affectives communes sont aussi discutées, mais encore peu étudiées. Un axe de notre travail a été d étudier les liens entre l alexithymie, les facteurs cliniques (e.g âge de début, durée d évolution, nombre de rechutes, évolution de l état globlal) et l anxiété sociale en prenant en compte d éventuels facteurs de confusion mis en cause dans la littérature (état nutritionnel,, affects anxio-dépressifs). Le deuxième axe de notre travail a porté sur la caractérisation du chevauchement existant entre les troubles du spectre autistique et l anorexie mentale en comparant les profils socio-affectifs d anorexiques et de personnes atteintes du syndrome d Asperger. Pour répondre au premier axe de recherche, nous avons réalisé deux études : une 1ère auprès de 60 patientes ; une 2ème auprès de 213 patients. Les sujets des deux études étaient des patients hospitalisés pour un épisode d anorexie dans une unité spécialisée dans la prise en charge des troubles des conduites alimentaires. La première étude a porté sur une population homogène d adolescentes anorexiques, malades depuis moins de 3 ans et toutes hospitalisées dans le même centre parisien. La participation à la deuxième étude a été proposée à tous les patients âgés de 13 à 65 ans hospitalisés pour un épisode d anorexie au sein de 11 services spécialisés en France. Pour les deux études, nous avons utilisé les scores à des instruments psychométriques mesurant l alexithymie (TAS-20 ou BVAQ), la symptomatologie alimentaire (EDI, ou EDE-Q et EAT) et les affects anxio-dépressifs (SCL-90 ou HAD). L état global des patients, l anxiété et l évitement social ont été évalués lors d entretiens semi-structurés (respectivement Morgan et Russell, LSAS). De ces deux études, il ressort que l alexithymie semble jouer un rôle péjorant, non seulement sur les symptômes alimentaires, mais également sur l évitement social. L impact de l alexithymie existe au-delà de l effet de l état nutritionnel et des affects dysphoriques. Le fonctionnement alexithymique semble par ailleurs influencer négativement l évolution de l état clinique des personnes ayant nécessité une hospitalisation pour anorexie mentale dans une unité spécialisée. Pour répondre à notre deuxième axe de recherche, nous avons réalisé une étude psychométrique comparative auprès de 15 personnes présentant un Syndrome d Asperger, 15 anorexiques et deux groupes de témoins appariés à chaque groupe clinique. Nous avons utilisé des entretiens semi-structurés pour confirmer les diagnostics du Syndrome d Asperger et d AM (ADOS et MINI). Les participants ont complété des échelles d alexithymie (BVAQ), de traits autistiques (AQ), d empathie (IRI, EQ), de dépression (BDI) ainsi que de symptomatologie alimentaire (EAT). Cette étude comparative montre que les anorexiques se rapprochent des personnes souffrant du Syndrome d Asperger en ce qui concerne l alexithymie et certains traits autistiques, notamment cognitifs. (...)This work concerns the impact and the nature of socio-affective difficulties in Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Interoceptive and introspective difficulties, as apprehended by measures of alexithymia, could be linked to the severity of clinical profiles among AN patients, and have an impact not only on their somatic state but also on their interpersonal functioning.Alongside, alexithymia and social avoidance are deficits that are encountered in disorders in the autistic spectrum. The London Institute of Psychiatry has indeed proposed a model involving shared endophenotypes between these disorders and AN, thus concluding to a phenotype overlap. The lack of flexibility and central coherence among these patients are issues that are being increasingly broached in the literature, and these features do indeed appear common to both pathologies. Socio-affective difficulties are also widely discussed in this respect, but as yet there have been few studies. Our first line of research was the study of the links between alexithymia, clinical factors (such as age at onset, duration of illness, number of relapses, evolution of global state), and social anxiety, taking into account any possible confounders highlighted in the literature (nutritional state, anxious-depressive affects). The second line of research was an exploration of the overlap between disorders in the autism spectrum and AN, by way of a comparison of the socio-affective profiles of AN patients and patients with Asperger's syndrome. To address the first line of research two studies were conducted. The first involved 60 female patients, and the second included 213 male and female patients. The patients in both of these studies were hospitalised for an episode of anorexia in units specialised in the care of eating disorders. The first study explored a homogenous population of anorexic adolescent girls with an illness duration of three years or more, all hospitalised in the same facility in Paris. Participation in the second study was proposed to all patents aged between 13 and 65 years hospitalised for an episode of anorexia across 11 specialised units in France. For both studies the scores used were derived from psychometric measures of alexithymia (TAS-20 or BVAQ), eating disorder symptoms (EDI or EDE-Q and EAT), and anxious-depressive affects (SCL-90 or HAD). Global state, anxiety and social avoidance were assessed in the course of semi-structured interviews (GOAS and LSAS respectively). From these studies it emerged that alexithymia appears to have an aggravating role, not only on eating symptoms, but also on social avoidance. The impact of alexithymia extends beyond that of the nutritional state and dysphoric affects. Alexithymic functioning also appears to have a negative impact on the evolution of clinical state among individuals having required hospitalisation in a unit specialised in AN. To explore the second line of research we performed a comparative psychometric study on 15 individuals presenting Asperger's syndrome, 15 anorexic patients, and two control groups matched to the two clinical groups. Semi-structured interviews were used to confirm the diagnoses of Asperger's Syndrome and AN (ADOS and MINI). The participants completed the scales for alexithymia (BVAQ), autistic traits (AQ), empathy (IRI,EQ), depression (BDI) and eating symptoms (EAT). This comparative study showed that AN subjects exhibited similarities with Asperger subjects for alexithymia and certain autistic traits, in particular cognitive. In contrast, important differences were observed for social skills, with anorexics exhibiting more empathy and greater concern for others that the patients with a disorder in the autism spectrum. From a clinical point of view in the field of the care of AN, this research shows the value of developing new approaches centred on the recognition of emotional states and the improvement of social skills. (...)PARIS5-Bibliotheque electronique (751069902) / SudocSudocFranceF

Longitudinal and sex measurement invariance of the affective neuroscience personality scales

The Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) is a personality instrument based on six evolutionary-related brain systems that are at the foundation of human emotions and behaviors: SEEKING, CARING, PLAYFULNESS, FEAR, ANGER, and SADNESS. We sought to assess for the short and long versions of the ANPS: (a) the longitudinal measurement invariance and long-term (4-year) stability and (b) the sex measurement invariance. Using data from a Canadian cohort (N = 518), we used single-group confirmatory factor analysis to assess longitudinal invariance and multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis to assess sex invariance, according to a five-step approach evaluating five invariance levels (configural, metric, scalar, residual, and complete). Results supported full longitudinal invariance for both versions for all invariance levels. Partial residual invariance was supported for sex invariance. The long-term stability of both versions was good to excellent. Implications for personality assessment and ANPS development are discussed

Investigating emotional impairments in adults with autism spectrum disorders and the broader autism phenotype

There is an increasing interest in the socio-affective atypicalities observed in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of this study was to further explore emotional responsiveness in adults with ASD using well-validated self-reports of alexithymia and extend these with consideration of anhedonia, and to determine whether these features are part of a broader autism phenotype. Thirty-eight adults with ASD, 87 parents of ASD individuals and 47 typical controls completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient, the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire, as well as the Chapman Physical and Social Anhedonia Scales. The ASD group differed from controls and parents on most measures, with the exception of physical and social anhedonia, relative to parents. Parents differed from controls on social anhedonia, and a higher proportion of parents were classed as alexithymic, relative to controls. Cluster analysis revealed that some parents share more similarities with ASD participants than with controls. The results suggest that socio-affective impairments are characteristic of ASD, and feature as part of the broader autism phenotype

Training Symbol-Based Equalization for Quadrature Duobinary PDM-FTN Systems

A training symbol-based equalization algorithm is proposed for polarization de-multiplexing in quadrature duobinary (QDB) modulated polarization division multiplexedfaster-than-Nyquist (FTN) coherent optical systems. The proposed algorithm is based on the least mean square algorithm, and multiple location candidates of a symbol are considered in order to make use of the training symbols with QDB modulation.Results show that an excellent convergence performance is obtained using the proposed algorithm under different polarization alignment scenarios. The optical signal-to-noise ratio required to attain a bit error rate of 2*10-2 is reduced by 1.7 and 1.8 dB using the proposed algorithm, compared to systems using the constant modulus algorithm with differential coding for 4-ary quadrature amplitude modulation(4-QAM) and 16-QAM systems with symbol-by-symbol detection, respectively.Furthermore, comparisons with the Tomlinson-Harashima precoding-based FTN systems illustrate that QDB is preferable when 4-QAM is utilized

Identifying affective personality profiles: A latent profile analysis of the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales

Based on evolutionary theory, a recent model in affective neuroscience delineated six emotional brain systems at the core of human personality: SEEKING, CARING, PLAYFULNESS, FEAR, ANGER, SADNESS. The Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS) assess their functioning. Using a person-centred approach of the ANPS, this study: (i) examined the existence of latent personality profiles, (ii) studied their gender invariance, (iii) assessed their longitudinal (4 years) stability, and (iv) explored how they relate to several intrapersonal, interpersonal, and emotion regulation skills. Latent Profile Analysis in 2 samples (Canadian, longitudinal, N = 520; French, cross-sectional, N = 830) found that, qualitatively, 3 profiles characterized both populations and genders, with one distinction for the second profile where the French women endorsed slightly higher and lower scores for, respectively, the negative and positive emotions. Whilst not being quantitatively similar across genders, the personality profiles remained consistent across time in the longitudinal sample. Associations between profiles and intrapersonal (e.g. depression), interpersonal (e.g. empathy), and emotion regulation skills measures (e.g. emotional intelligence) offered concurrent validity evidence. This person centred approach to ANPS offers a holistic and parsimonious way to study affective personality dimensions. It opens promising avenues for future studies on the predictive value of ANPS profiles, and for personality-targeted interventions

Harsh parenting practices mediate the association between parent affective profiles and child adjustment outcomes:Differential associations for mothers and fathers

Children’s early emotional environment strongly influences their later behavioural development. Yet, besides maternal depression, limited knowledge exists about the effect of other emotions and the role of fathers. Using 290 triads (mother/father/child), we investigated how positive (SEEKING, CARING, PLAYFULNESS) and negative (FEAR, ANGER, SADNESS) dimensions of mothers’ and fathers’ affectivity relate to their offspring’s externalizing and internalizing behaviours directly as well as indirectly via parenting practices. Parental variables were measured when children were 4 years old and children’s behaviours were measured at 8 years of age. Latent Profile Analysis identified three parental affective profiles: low negative emotions, balanced, and high emotional. Structural equation models showed that, for boys, mothers’ low negative emotions and high emotional profiles predicted later internalizing behaviours (direct effect; β = −0.21 and β = 0.23), while fathers’ low negative emotions profile predicted externalizing behaviours indirectly (β = −0.10). For girls, mothers’ profiles (low negative emotions and high emotional) predicted both internalizing (β = −0.04 and β = 0.07) and externalizing (β = −0.05 and β = 0.09) behaviours indirectly, but no effects of fathers’ profiles were found. Mothers’ and fathers’ affective profiles contributed to the behavioural development of their offspring in different ways, according to the type of behaviour (internalizing or externalizing) and the child’s sex. These findings may help in tailoring existing parenting interventions on affective profiles, thus enhancing their efficacy

Stroke

Background and Purpose-The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) integrity and postischemic stroke recovery in 4 main domains including cognition, mood, gait, and dependency. Methods-A prospective study was conducted, including patients diagnosed for an ischemic supratentorial stroke on a 3T brain MRI performed 24 to 72 hours after symptom onset. Clinical assessment 1 year after stroke included a Montreal Cognitive Assessment, an Isaacs set test, a Zazzo cancelation task, a Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, a 10-meter walking test, and a modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Diffusion tensor imaging parameters in the NAWM were computed using FMRIB (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain) Diffusion Toolbox. The relationships between mean NAWM diffusion tensor imaging parameters and the clinical scores were assessed using linear and ordinal regression analyses, including the volumes of white matter hyperintensities, gray matter, and ischemic stroke as radiological covariates. Results-Two hundred seven subjects were included (66±13 years old; 67% men; median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, 3; interquartile range, 2-6). In the models including only radiological variables, NAWM fractional anisotropy was associated with the mRS and the cognitive scores. After adjusting for demographic confounders, NAWM fractional anisotropy remained a significant predictor of mRS (β=-0.24; P=0.04). Additional path analysis showed that NAWM fractional anisotropy had a direct effect on mRS (β=-0.241; P=0.001) and a less important indirect effect mediating white matter hyperintensity burden. Similar results were found with mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity. In further subgroup analyses, a relationship between NAWM integrity in widespread white matter tracts, mRS, and Isaacs set test was found in right hemispheric strokes. Conclusions-NAWM diffusion tensor imaging parameters measured early after an ischemic stroke are independent predictors of functional outcome and may be additional markers to include in studies evaluating poststroke recovery. © 2020 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.Translational Research and Advanced Imaging Laborator

Psychometric Properties of the French Version of the Guilt Inventory

Objective: The feeling of guilt is essential to a healthy interpersonal functioning but can also play a role in self-destructive behaviours. Although there is about 20 guilt scales in English, none has yet been validated in French. This study intends to fill this gap by proposing a French version of the Guilt Inventory (GI) that evaluates trait guilt, state guilt, and moral standards. Method: Seven hundred and thirty-eight students filled the GI in French as well as scales measuring trait anxiety and state anxiety, and empathy skills. In a sample subgroup, we also evaluated depression, social desirability, and personality factors. Results: An exploratory factor analysis conducted on half of the participants resulted in keeping 18 of 20 items in trait GI, and 9 of 10 items in state GI, but also in disregarding the moral standard scale. A confirmatory factor analysis performed on the sample other half has validated this two-factor structure. The expected correlations between guilt scores, negative affectivity and interpersonal functioning were observed. Conclusion: This study suggests that the GI French version is an adequate measure of trait guilt and state guilt, and could prove to be a useful tool for both research and clinical purposes