Editorial: Autism Spectrum Disorders in Individuals at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis: Possible Association With Social Deficits but Not Conversion Rates

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Marinos Kyriakopoulos

Abstract

The relationship between autistic and psychotic disorders has been a subject of considerable scientific debate for a large part of the 20th century before the wider agreement on their distinct nosological status was reached. However, refinement and broadening of these diagnostic constructs, as well as evidence from epidemiological studies and advances in genetics and neuroimaging, still keep their association at the focus of systematic enquiry.1 Several models have been proposed to explain overlapping features and differentiating neurodevelopmental trajectories in these two groups of disorders, with a number of emerging research suggestions providing a framework for future directions.2 These attempts are not merely theoretical; understanding the relative contributions of comorbidity in children and young people presenting with these conditions is likely to inform decisions on treatment choices and risk-management approaches. Recent studies have highlighted the clinical significance of both psychotic symptoms in autism spectrum disorders (ASD)3 and autism traits in first-episode psychosis (FEP),4 supporting the importance of this line or research.

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