Central Sensitivity Syndromes in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults: A Study Examines Relationship Between Autistic Traits, Mental Health, and Sensory Sensitivity

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Autistic adults are more likely to experience physical health symptoms and may be more vulnerable to developing central sensitivity syndromes (CSS), a group of conditions characterized by an underlying sensitization of the central nervous system. A recent study analyzed the relationship between CSS symptoms, autistic traits, mental health, sensory sensitivity, age, and gender in 534 adults with clinical diagnoses of autism, CSS, or neither. The findings suggest that autistic people without a diagnosed CSS reported more CSS symptoms than controls, while non-autistic participants with a CSS diagnosis had more autistic traits. Sensory sensitivity, anxiety, autistic traits, age, and gender were all significant predictors of CSS symptoms.

Key Takeaways:

  • Autistic adults without a diagnosed CSS reported significantly more CSS symptoms than controls, with a mean score above the clinical cut-off.
  • Non-autistic participants with a CSS diagnosis had significantly more autistic traits than controls.
  • Autistic people with a diagnosed CSS reported the most sensory sensitivity, with autism only and CSS only groups reporting similar levels of sensory difficulties.
  • All diagnostic groups reported more sensory sensitivity than controls.
  • Sensory sensitivity, anxiety, autistic traits, age, and gender were all significant predictors of CSS symptoms.
  • There appears to be a large crossover between physical health symptoms in autistic people and people with a diagnosed CSS.
  • The study's findings suggest diagnostic overshadowing in these populations.
  • Increased awareness of an association between autistic traits and CSS symptoms should inform clinicians and guide diagnostic practice.

Statistics:

  • 534 adults participated in the study.
  • 534 participants completed online self-report validated questionnaires.
  • Mean score of CSS symptoms in autistic people without a diagnosed CSS was above the clinical cut-off.
  • 66.4% of participants reported sensory difficulties.
  • 62.4% of autistic people with a diagnosed CSS reported excessive sensory sensitivity.
  • 61.5% of participants with a CSS diagnosis reported anxiety.

Sources:

  • osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/bc6ym_v1/
  • Keywords for this news article include: Neurology, Mental Health, Health and Medicine, Diagnostics and Screening, Developmental Disabilities, Developmental Diseases and Conditions - Autism.