Autism Spectrum Disorder Versus Social Anxiety Disorder

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Autism Spectrum Disorder Versus Social Anxiety Disorder © Marking a Difference Tips for Clinicians no. 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder versus Social Anxiety Disorder Differential diagnosis is important because neurological underpinnings, etiologies, and prognoses vary for different disorders. Diagnosed behaviorally, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder both present with deficits in social interaction; additionally, ASD and SAD may overlap and diverge throughout development. Although several features of the two disorders are similar, there are important differences that should be considered for diagnosis and treatment. The checklist below is provided to help practitioners distinguish between Autism Spectrum Disorders and Social Anxiety Disorder (also known as Social Phobia). This sheet is meant to be used as a support for experienced practitioners. If in doubt, practitioners should consult directly with specialists in relevant fields. Similarities Deficits in: • Reduced eye contact • Social interaction • Awkward nonreciprocal • Social interests interactions • Social skills • Lack of communication • Expressing emotion • Social withdrawal • Challenges and biases in • Preference for being alone reading facial expressions • Passivity Differences Autism Spectrum Disorders Social Anxiety Disorder • Early onset • Onset typically in early adolescence • Delays in socialization • Early temperament labeled as “shy” • Less responsive to emotional contagion or • Capable of age-appropriate friendships facial mimicry • Fear of social evaluation • Weak theory of mind • Diverts attention away from self • Language delays or deficits • Unrealistic social standards • Repetitive and restricted behaviors • Fidgeting and nervous habits • Repetitive motor mannerisms • Amygdala hyperactivity • Below normal amygdala activity • Attentional bias towards threatening • Avoidance and social fears are not core stimuli (hypervigilance) features of ASD Key Questions: 1. Does the individual demonstrate age appropriate insight into self and others? (more characteristic of SAD) 2. Does the individual devote excessive attention to details, and experience difficulty shifting from routine activities? (more characteristic of ASD) Courtesy of: Julie Davies, Ph.D. Daniel Masler, M.A., L.M.H.C.A . 206-718-0906 206-406-2624 [email protected] [email protected] Sources: Baron-Cohan & Belmonte, 2005; Settipani, et al., 2012; Tyson & Cruess, 2012; White, Bray, & Ollendick, 2011; van Steensel, Bogels, Wood & Gadow, 2010. .
Recommended publications
  • Autism Practice Parameters
    American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry AACAP is pleased to offer Practice Parameters as soon as they are approved by the AACAP Council, but prior to their publication in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP). This article may be revised during the JAACAP copyediting, author query, and proof reading processes. Any final changes in the document will be made at the time of print publication and will be reflected in the final electronic version of the Practice Parameter. AACAP and JAACAP, and its respective employees, are not responsible or liable for the use of any such inaccurate or misleading data, opinion, or information contained in this iteration of this Practice Parameter. PRACTICE PARAMETER FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ABSTRACT Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by patterns of delay and deviance in the development of social, communicative, and cognitive skills which arise in the first years of life. Although frequently associated with intellectual disability, this condition is distinctive in terms of its course, impact, and treatment. ASD has a wide range of syndrome expression and its management presents particular challenges for clinicians. Individuals with an ASD can present for clinical care at any point in development. The multiple developmental and behavioral problems associated with this condition necessitate multidisciplinary care, coordination of services, and advocacy for individuals and their families. Early, sustained intervention and the use of multiple treatment modalities are indicated. Key Words: autism, practice parameters, guidelines, developmental disorders, pervasive developmental disorders. ATTRIBUTION This parameter was developed by Fred Volkmar, M.D., Matthew Siegel, M.D., Marc Woodbury-Smith, M.D., Bryan King, M.D., James McCracken, M.D., Matthew State, M.D., Ph.D.
    [Show full text]
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder: an Overview and Update
    Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Overview and Update Brandon Rennie, PhD Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities Division Center for Development and Disability University of New Mexico Department of Pediatrics DATE, 2016 Acknowledgements: Courtney Burnette, PHD, Sylvia Acosta, PhD, Maryann Trott, MA, BCBA Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) • What is ASD? • A complex neurodevelopmental condition • Neurologically based- underlying genetic and neurobiological origins • Developmental- evident early in life and impacts social development • Lifelong- no known cure • Core characteristics • Impairments in social interaction and social communication • Presence of restricted behavior, interests and activities • Wide variations in presentation DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria • Deficits in social communication and social interaction (3) • Social approach/interaction • Nonverbal communication • Relationships • Presence of restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities (2) • Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, objects, speech • Routines • Restricted interests • Sensory* From Rain Man To Sheldon Cooper- Autism in the Media 1910 Bleuler • First use of the word autistic • From “autos”, Greek word meaning “self” 1943 Leo Kanner 1944 Hans Asperger 1975 1:5000 1985 1:2500 1995 1:500 “When my brother trained at Children's Hospital at Harvard in the 1970s, they admitted a child with autism, and the head of the hospital brought all of the residents through to see. He said, 'You've got to see this case; you'll never see it
    [Show full text]
  • Autistic Traits and Social Anxiety Predict Differential Performance on Social Cognitive Tasks in Typically Developing Young Adults
    W&M ScholarWorks Arts & Sciences Articles Arts and Sciences 3-29-2018 Autistic traits and social anxiety predict differential performance on social cognitive tasks in typically developing young adults. Cheryl L. Dickter College of William and Mary, [email protected] J A. Burk K M. Fleckenstein C T. Kozikowski Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/aspubs Part of the Cognitive Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Dickter, Cheryl L.; Burk, J A.; Fleckenstein, K M.; and Kozikowski, C T., Autistic traits and social anxiety predict differential performance on social cognitive tasks in typically developing young adults. (2018). PLoS ONE, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195239 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Arts and Sciences at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Arts & Sciences Articles by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RESEARCH ARTICLE Autistic traits and social anxiety predict differential performance on social cognitive tasks in typically developing young adults Cheryl L. Dickter1*, Joshua A. Burk1, Katarina Fleckenstein1, C. Teal Kozikowski1,2 1 Psychological Sciences, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States of America, 2 Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States of America * [email protected] Abstract a1111111111 The current work examined the unique contribution that autistic traits and social anxiety a1111111111 a1111111111 have on tasks examining attention and emotion processing. In Study 1, 119 typically-devel- a1111111111 oping college students completed a flanker task assessing the control of attention to target a1111111111 faces and away from distracting faces during emotion identification.
    [Show full text]
  • Social Anxiety Disorder in Psychosis: a Critical Review
    Chapter 7 Social Anxiety Disorder in Psychosis: A Critical Review Maria Michail Additional information is available at the end of the chapter http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/53053 1. Introduction Eugene Bleuler was one of the first to emphasize the importance of affect and its pro‐ nounced impact upon the course and outcome of psychosis. The famous “Krapelian dichtoco‐ my” which supported the clear distinction between mood and psychotic illnesses on the basis of etiological origins, symptomatology, course and outcome was first challenged by Bleuler. Bleuler recognized the disorders of affect as one of the four primary symptoms (blunted 'Affect', loosening of 'Associations', 'Ambivalence', and 'Autism') of schizophrenia, as opposed to delusions and hallucinations which were perceived as secondary. Bleuler further postulated the incongruity between emotions and thought content in people with schizo‐ phrenia as well as their diminished or complete lack of emotional responsiveness. Bleuler’s recognition of the importance of affective disturbances in schizophrenia has influenced cur‐ rent diagnostic definitions and criteria of schizophrenia. The sharp distinction between affect and psychosis which has dominated both research and clinical practice during the nineteenth and twentieth century has gradually been abandoned. New evidence from epidemiological, familial and molecular genetic studies (Cardno et al, 2005; Craddock et al, 2005; Craddock & Owen, 2005) have come to light demonstrating the endemic nature of affective disturbances in psychosis. In a twin study by Cardno et al (2002), the authors identified significant overlap in risk factors between the schizophrenic, schizoaffective and manic syndromes. Specifically, considerable genetic correlations were reported between the schizophrenic and manic syndromes.
    [Show full text]
  • The Relationship Between Social Anxiety and Leadership Emergence: a Resource Perspective
    The Relationship between Social Anxiety and Leadership Emergence: A Resource Perspective by Katherine Naomi Rau A thesis submitted to the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts at Florida Institute of Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master’s of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology Melbourne, Florida September, 2018 We the undersigned committee hereby approve the attached thesis, “The Relationship between Social Anxiety and Leadership Emergence: A Resource Perspective,” by Katherine Naomi Rau. _________________________________________________ Dr. Jessica Wildman Associate Professor Industrial Organizational Psychology _________________________________________________ Dr. Lisa Steelman Interim Dean COPLA Professor and Program Chair Industrial Organizational Psychology _________________________________________________ Dr. Kimberly Demoret Assistant Professor Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences _________________________________________________ Dr. Lisa Steelman Interim Dean COPLA Professor and Program Chair Industrial Organizational Psychology Abstract The Relationship between Social Anxiety and Leadership Emergence: A Resource Perspective Author: Katherine Rau Advisor: Jessica Wildman, Ph.D. Despite its certain prevalence, mental illness has remained largely unstudied in the field of Industrial-Organizational Psychology. The research at hand addresses a widening gap in the literature: what does mental illness mean for leadership, particularly leadership emergence? In attempting to answer
    [Show full text]
  • An Evidence Based Guide to Anxiety in Autism
    Academic excellence for business and the professions The Autism Research Group An Evidence Based Guide to Anxiety in Autism Sebastian B Gaigg, Autism Research Group City, University of London Jane Crawford, Autism and Social Communication Team West Sussex County Council Helen Cottell, Autism and Social Communication Team West Sussex County Council www.city.ac.uk November 2018 Foreword Over the past 10-15 years, research has confirmed what many parents and teachers have long suspected – that many autistic children often experience very significant levels of anxiety. This guide provides an overview of what is currently known about anxiety in autism; how common it is, what causes it, and what strategies might help to manage and reduce it. By combining the latest research evidence with experience based recommendations for best practice, the aim of this guide is to help educators and other professionals make informed decisions about how to promote mental health and well-being in autistic children under their care. 3 Contents What do we know about anxiety in autism? 5 What is anxiety? 5 How common is anxiety and what does it look like in autism? 6 What causes anxiety in autism? 7-9 Implications for treatment approaches 10 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy 10 Coping with uncertainity 11 Mindfulness based therapy 11 Tools to support the management of anxiety in autism 12 Sensory processing toolbox 12-13 Emotional awareness and alexithymia toolbox 14-15 Intolerance of uncertainty toolbox 16-17 Additional resources and further reading 18-19 A note on language in this guide There are different preferences among members of the autism community about whether identity-first (‘autistic person’) or person-first (‘person with autism’) language should be used to describe individuals who have received an autism spectrum diagnosis.
    [Show full text]
  • Social Anxiety Disorder in First-Episode Psychosis: Incidence, Phenomenology and Relationship with Paranoia Maria Michail and Max Birchwood
    The British Journal of Psychiatry (2009) 195, 234–241. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.053124 Social anxiety disorder in first-episode psychosis: incidence, phenomenology and relationship with paranoia Maria Michail and Max Birchwood Background Social anxiety disorder constitutes a significant problem avoidance and depression. Social anxiety in psychosis was for people with psychosis. It is unclear whether this is not related to the positive symptoms of the Positive and a by-product of persecutory thinking. Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) including suspiciousness/ persecution. However, a significantly greater percentage of Aims socially anxious v. non-socially anxious individuals with To compare the phenomenology of social anxiety disorder in psychosis expressed perceived threat from persecutors, first-episode psychosis with that in a group without although this did not affect the severity of social anxiety psychosis. The relationship between social anxiety and within the FEP/SaD group. The majority of those in the FEP/ psychosis symptoms was investigated. SaD group did not have concurrent persecutory delusions. Method Conclusions A sample of people with first-episode psychosis (FEP group) Social anxiety is a significant comorbidity in first-episode was compared with a sample with social anxiety disorder psychosis. It is not simply an epiphenomenon of psychotic without psychosis (SaD group). symptoms and clinical paranoia, and it has more than one causal pathway. For a subgroup of socially anxious people Results with psychosis, anticipated harm is present and the Of the individuals in the FEP group (n = 80) 25% were processes that underlie its relationship with social anxiety diagnosed with an ICD–10 social anxiety disorder (FEP/SaD warrant further investigation.
    [Show full text]
  • Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
    1 SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM AND OTHER PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS 2 OBJECTIVES Know and understand: • How to evaluate a person with psychotic symptoms • The epidemiology and clinical characteristics of late- onset schizophrenia • Evaluation of psychotic symptoms associated with disorders other than schizophrenia • Management of older adult patients with psychotic symptoms 3 TOPICS COVERED • Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia Spectrum Syndromes • Psychotic Symptoms in Delirium and Delusional Disorder • Psychotic Symptoms in Mood Disorder • Psychotic Symptoms in Dementia • Isolated Suspiciousness • Syndromes of Isolated Hallucinations: Charles Bonnet Syndrome • Other Psychotic Disorders Ø Psychotic Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition Ø Substance/Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder 4 PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS • Hallucinations are perceptions without stimuli that can affect any of the 5 sensory modalities (auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory, gustatory) • Delusions are fixed, false, idiosyncratic beliefs that can be: Ø Suspicious (paranoid) Ø Grandiose Ø Somatic Ø Self-blaming Ø Hopeless 5 EVALUATION OF A PERSON WITH PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS • First evaluate for underlying causes such as delirium, dementia, stroke, or Parkinson disease Ø Acute onset of altered level of consciousness or inability to sustain attention suggests delirium Ø Delirium, most often superimposed on an underlying dementia, is the most common cause of new-onset psychosis in late life • Next, consider a primary mood disorder • Only after other causes are excluded should the diagnosis of
    [Show full text]
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder and Comorbid Paranoid Schizophrenia Monnica T
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology Psychology, Department of 2015 Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder and Comorbid Paranoid Schizophrenia Monnica T. Williams University of Louisville, [email protected] Michelle C. Capozzoli University of Nebraska–Lincoln, [email protected] Erica V. Buckner University of Louisville David Yuska University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub Part of the Clinical Psychology Commons, and the Personality and Social Contexts Commons Williams, Monnica T.; Capozzoli, Michelle C.; Buckner, Erica V.; and Yuska, David, "Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder and Comorbid Paranoid Schizophrenia" (2015). Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology. 711. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub/711 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Psychology, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Published in Clinical Case Studies 14:5 (2015), pp. 323– 341. doi 10.1177/1534650114559717 Copyright © 2014 Monnica T. Williams, Michelle C. Capozzoli, Erica V. Buckner, and David Yusko; published by SAGE Publications. Used by permission. digitalcommons.unl.edu Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder
    [Show full text]
  • Overlap Between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Bipolar Affective Disorder
    CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by University of Regensburg Publication Server Review Psychopathology 2015;48:209–216 Received: November 24, 2014 DOI: 10.1159/000435787 Accepted after revision: May 23, 2015 Published online: August 8, 2015 Overlap between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Bipolar Affective Disorder a, c b–d Norbert Skokauskas Thomas Frodl a Centre of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Child Protection, Department of Neuroscience, Norges b Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, Trondheim , Norway; Department of Psychiatry, University of Regensburg, c d Regensburg , Germany; Department of Psychiatry, and Institute of Neuroscience, University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin , Ireland Key Words Introduction Autism spectrum disorder · Bipolar affective disorder · Co-occurrence · Prevalence Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neuro- developmental disorder previously characterized as a tri- ad of symptoms [1] and now as a dyad, comprising social Abstract communication difficulties and repetitive, stereotyped Background: At present there is a substantial uncertainty re- behavior [2] . A recent review of global prevalence of ASD garding the extent and nature of autism spectrum disorder reported a median of 62 cases per 10,000 and did not sup- (ASD) and bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) co-occurrence port differences in prevalence by geographic region or of due to disparate findings in previous studies. This paper a strong impact of ethnic/cultural or socioeconomic fac- aimed to find and review original studies on co-occurrence tors [3] . rates of ASD with BPAD, assess them, synthesize the findings In the past there was a tendency to attribute almost all in a systematic way, present an overview and make recom- psychiatric and behavioral problems in persons with ASD mendations for future research.
    [Show full text]
  • Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders in Children and Adolescents
    Susan Lurie, MD; Gautam Rajendran, MD; Scot McKay, MD; Elise M. Sannar, MD Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders in Children and Adolescents Susan Lurie, MD; Gautam Rajendran, MD; Scot McKay, MD; Elise M. Sannar, MD Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine Denver Health Behavioral Health Services, Pediatric Mental Health Institute, Children’s Hospital Colorado Introduction adolescent psychiatrists are likely to encounter a here are multiple causes of psychosis, including number of patients with adolescent or even younger Tboth psychiatric and medical. Schizophrenia, the onset illness. Early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) refers main focus of this article, is one of the most no- to individuals who have developed the full illness table. Schizophrenia is believed to have occurred in before age 18, and childhood onset schizophre- mankind throughout history, and is generally associ- nia (COS; onset before age 12) is a subset of EOS. ated with significant morbidity. The World Health The diagnostic validity of schizophrenia in children younger than 6 has not been established, though a Organization ranks it among the most disabling and 7 economically catastrophic medical disorders, and few cases have been reported. one of the top 10 illnesses contributing to the global burden of disease.1 Schizophrenia occurs in approxi- Diagnostic Considerations mately 1% of the population worldwide. It affects DSM II, published in 1968, was the first manual men and women equally, but men tend to manifest to include disorders of childhood. The concept of 2 symptoms on average 5 years earlier than women. schizophrenia at that time was broad, and included The concept of schizophrenia and psychosis has children with developmental disabilities in addi- evolved for well over a century.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding the Relationship Between Social Anxiety and Personality
    Contractor and Sarkar: Relationship between Social anxiety and personality 107 Original Research Article Understanding the Relationship between Social Anxiety and Personality Ruhee Contractor1, Sejal Sarkar2 1,2Department of Psychology, K.C College, Mumbai. Corresponding author: Ms. Ruhee Contractor Email –[email protected] ABSTRACT Background: Previous studies on the relationship between social anxiety and personality have found that certain components of The Big Five such as neuroticism and extraversion are related to social anxiety. There is little data available on this relationship of social anxiety in Indian university students even though, past researchers have found that social phobia leads to impairment in various aspects of life. Thus, this research tried to narrow these gaps and explore the links between social anxiety and personality in Indian university students. Methods: The sample consisted of N=121 participants and they were asked to complete two questionnaires - The Big Five Factor Inventory and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). A subscale of the LSAS i.e. total avoidance was measured to find its relationship with the Big Five. Pearson's correlation and multiple regressions were used to analyse the data. Results: Findings indicated that personality, in particular, high neuroticism and low extraversion, may play an important role in the manifestation of social anxiety. Interpretations and implications of predictive importance of the interaction of personality traits and avoidance in anxiety are discussed, and further speculations about different interventions and cross-cultural studies have been put forth. Conclusion:The strength of this study is that it is one of the few research studies done in India which look at this relationship.
    [Show full text]