TY - JOUR
T1 - The autism-spectrum quotient - Italian version
T2 - A cross- cultural confirmation of the broader autism phenotype
AU - Ruta, Liliana
AU - Mazzone, Domenico
AU - Mazzone, Luigi
AU - Wheelwright, Sally
AU - Baron-Cohen, Simon
PY - 2012/4
Y1 - 2012/4
N2 - The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) has been used to define the 'broader' (BAP), 'medium' (MAP) and 'narrow' autism phenotypes (NAP). We used a new Italian version of the AQ to test if difference on AQ scores and the distribution of BAP, MAP and NAP in autism parents (n = 245) versus control parents (n = 300) were replicated in a Sicilian sample. Parents of children with autism spectrum conditions scored higher than the control parents on total AQ, social skills and communication subscales, and exhibited higher rates of BAP, MAP and NAP. We conclude that the Italian AQ is a cross-culturally reliable measure of these different phenotypes, and can be used to identify a phenotypic gradient of severity of autistic traits in families. To understand the molecular basis of these phenotypes will require its use in genetic association studies.
AB - The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) has been used to define the 'broader' (BAP), 'medium' (MAP) and 'narrow' autism phenotypes (NAP). We used a new Italian version of the AQ to test if difference on AQ scores and the distribution of BAP, MAP and NAP in autism parents (n = 245) versus control parents (n = 300) were replicated in a Sicilian sample. Parents of children with autism spectrum conditions scored higher than the control parents on total AQ, social skills and communication subscales, and exhibited higher rates of BAP, MAP and NAP. We conclude that the Italian AQ is a cross-culturally reliable measure of these different phenotypes, and can be used to identify a phenotypic gradient of severity of autistic traits in families. To understand the molecular basis of these phenotypes will require its use in genetic association studies.
KW - Autism spectrum conditions
KW - Autism-spectrum quotient
KW - Autistic traits
KW - Broader autism phenotype
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84859109575&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84859109575&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10803-011-1290-1
DO - 10.1007/s10803-011-1290-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 21626054
AN - SCOPUS:84859109575
VL - 42
SP - 625
EP - 633
JO - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
JF - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
SN - 0162-3257
IS - 4
ER -