Self-focus attention and depressive symptoms in ASD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Self-focus attention and depressive symptoms in adults with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD)
IRAS ID
187860
Contact name
Kate Woodcock
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queens University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Adults with autistic spectrum disorder are at high risk of developing comorbid depressive symptoms however, little is known about the potential risk factors for developing mood disorder in this population. In the general population self-focus attention has been associated with depression, with higher self-focus conferring to more depressive symptoms. However, empirical evidence supports diminished self-focus attention in individuals with autism and the ‘absent self’ hypothesis of autism proposes that diminished awareness of self can be used to understand the social communication difficulties seen in autism. In line with these findings, an inverted U shape model of self-focus attention has been proposed to explain a wide range of conditions, and posits that self-focus is excessive in depressive disorders and is diminished in autistic disorders. This model however, provides little scope for understanding individual differences in self-focus among individuals with an autistic disorder and how these may relate to depressive symptoms. There is new evidence emerging to suggest that increased levels of rumination (one aspect of self-focus attention) may be associated with depression in individuals with autism. The aim of the current study is to examine the relationship between individual differences in self-focus attention and depressive symptoms in adults with the social communication difficulties characteristic of an autistic disorder.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NE/0151
Date of REC Opinion
9 May 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion