Top

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Gepubliceerd in:

04-02-2023 | Brief Report

Brief Report: Local–Global Processing and Co-occurrence of Anxiety, Autistic and Obsessive–Compulsive Traits in a Non-clinical Sample

Auteurs: Chris Retzler, Jenny Retzler

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 2/2025

Abstract

Purpose

Increased local-to-global interference has been found in those with ASD, AD and OCD, and as such, may represent a transdiagnostic marker. As a first step to investigating this, we aimed to assess the overlap in traits of these disorders in a non-clinical sample, and whether local–global processing relates to the traits of the three conditions.

Methods

Participants (n = 149) completed questionnaires including the Autism Quotient (AQ), the Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory (OCI-R) and the Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and an online version of the Navon task. Behavioural metrics of interference and precedence were extracted from the task and correlated with trait scores.

Results

We found moderate to strong correlations between the total scores for ASD, anxiety and OCD. Most local–global processing indices did not relate to traits.

Conclusion

The study found evidence for an overlap in autism, anxiety and obsessive–compulsive traits in a non-clinical sample. However, local–global processing, as measured by the Navon task, did not appear to underpin symptomatology in the sample and could not be considered a transdiagnostic marker. Future research should investigate the value of alternate metrics.

vorige artikel Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Times of COVID-19: Examining Emotional and Behavioral Problems, Parental Well-Being, and Resilience

volgende artikel Correction: Perception and Production of Pitch Information in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Baiano, C., Raimo, G., Zappullo, I., Cecere, R., Rauso, B., Positano, M., Conson, M., Aversana, L. D., Di Rosa, A., Esposito, G., Milo, R., Polito, F., Raimondo, C., Turco, A., The LabNPEE Group. (2022). Anxiety sensitivity domains are differently affected by social and non-social autistic traits. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(8), 3486–3495. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05228-wCrossRefPubMed

Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Skinner, R., Martin, J., & Clubley, E. (2001). The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31(1), 5–17. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1005653411471CrossRefPubMed

Basso, M. R., Schefft, B. K., Ris, M. D., & Dember, W. N. (1996). Mood and global-local visual processing. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 2(3), 249–255. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617700001193CrossRefPubMed

Bird, G., Catmur, C., Silani, G., Frith, C., & Frith, U. (2006). Attention does not modulate neural responses to social stimuli in autism spectrum disorders. NeuroImage, 31(4), 1614–1624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.02.037CrossRefPubMed

Boer, L. C., & Keuss, P. J. G. (1982). Global precedence as a postperceptual effect: An analysis of speed-accuracy tradeoff functions. Perception & Psychophysics, 31(4), 358–366. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03202660CrossRef

Cath, D. C., Ran, N., Smit, J. H., van Balkom, A. J. L. M., & Comijs, H. C. (2008). Symptom overlap between autism spectrum disorder, generalized social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults: A preliminary case-controlled study. Psychopathology, 41(2), 101–110. https://doi.org/10.1159/000111555CrossRefPubMed

Chamberlain, R., Van der Hallen, R., Huygelier, H., Van de Cruys, S., & Wagemans, J. (2017). Local-global processing bias is not a unitary individual difference in visual processing. Vision Research, 141, 247–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2017.01.008CrossRefPubMed

de Fockert, J. W., & Cooper, A. (2014). Higher levels of depression are associated with reduced global bias in visual processing. Cognition & Emotion. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2013.839939CrossRef

Doi, S., Kobayashi, Y., Takebayashi, Y., Mizokawa, E., Nakagawa, A., Mimura, M., & Horikoshi, M. (2021). Associations of Autism Traits With Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms and Well-Being in Patients With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 7717. doiL https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.697717

Foa, E. B., Huppert, J. D., Leiberg, S., Langner, R., Kichic, R., Hajcak, G., & Salkovskis, P. M. (2002). The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory: Development and validation of a short version. Psychological Assessment, 14(4), 485–496.CrossRefPubMed

Freeth, M., Bullock, T., & Milne, E. (2013). The distribution of and relationship between autistic traits and social anxiety in a UK student population. Autism, 17(5), 571–581. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361312445511CrossRefPubMed

Frith, U. (2003). Autism: Explaining the enigma. Blackwells. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/75512/

Gerlach, C., & Poirel, N. (2020). Who’s got the global advantage? Visual field differences in processing of global and local shape. Cognition, 195, 104131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2019.104131CrossRefPubMed

Hallett, V., Ronald, A., Rijsdijk, F., & Happe, F. (2011). Disentangling the associations between autistic-like and internalizing traits: A community based twin study. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 40, 815–827. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-011-9596-1CrossRef

Jiujias, M., Kelley, E., & Hall, L. (2017). Restricted, repetitive behaviors in autism spectrum disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorder: A comparative review. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 48(6), 944–959.CrossRef

Kanne, S. M., Christ, S. E., & Reiersen, A. M. (2009). Psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial difficulties in young adults with autistic traits. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(6), 827–833. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0688-xCrossRefPubMed

Kunihira, Y., Senju, A., Dairoku, H., Wakabayashi, A., & Hasegawa, T. (2006). ‘Autistic’ traits in non-autistic Japanese populations: Relationships with personality traits and cognitive ability. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(4), 553–566. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0094-1CrossRefPubMed

Liew, S. M., Thevaraja, N., Hong, R. Y., & Magiati, I. (2015). The relationship between autistic traits and social anxiety, worry, obsessive-compulsive, and depressive symptoms: Specific and non-specific mediators in a student sample. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(3), 858–872. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2238-zCrossRefPubMed

Mottron, L., Dawson, M., Soulières, I., Hubert, B., & Burack, J. (2006). Enhanced perceptual functioning in autism: An update, and eight principles of autistic perception. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(1), 27–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-005-0040-7CrossRefPubMed

Peirce, J. W., Gray, J. R., Simpson, S., MacAskill, M., Höchenberger, R., Sogo, H., Kastman, E., & Lindeløv, J. K. (2019). PsychoPy2: Experiments in behavior made easy. Behavior Research Methods, 51(1), 195–203. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-018-01193-yCrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Rankins, D., Bradshaw, J. L., & Georgiou-Karistianis, N. (2005). Local–global processing in obsessive–compulsive disorder and comorbid Tourette’s syndrome. Brain and Cognition, 59(1), 43–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2005.04.003CrossRefPubMed

Shilton, A., Laycock, R., & Crewther, S. (2019). Different effects of trait and state anxiety on global-local visual processing following acute stress. Cognition, Brain, Behavior. An Interdisciplinary Journal, 23, 155–170. https://doi.org/10.24193/cbb.2019.23.09CrossRef

Tyler, S. K., & Tucker, D. M. (1982). Anxiety and perceptual structure: Individual differences in neuropsychological function. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 91(3), 210–220. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.91.3.210CrossRefPubMed

Van der Hallen, R., Evers, K., Brewaeys, K., Van den Noortgate, W., & Wagemans, J. (2015). Global processing takes time: A meta-analysis on local-global visual processing in ASD. Psychological Bulletin, 141(3), 549–573. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000004CrossRefPubMed

Van Eylen, L., Boets, B., Steyaert, J., Wagemans, J., & Noens, I. (2018). Local and global visual processing in autism spectrum disorders: Influence of task and sample characteristics and relation to symptom severity. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(4), 1359–1381. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2526-2CrossRefPubMed

van Steensel, F. J. A., Bögels, S. M., & Perrin, S. (2011). Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders: A meta-analysis. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 14(3), 302–317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-011-0097-0CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

White, S. W., Bray, B. C., & Ollendick, T. H. (2012). Examining shared and unique aspects of social anxiety disorder and autism spectrum disorder using factor analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(5), 874–884. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1325-7CrossRefPubMed

Wood, J. J., & Gadow, K. D. (2010). Exploring the nature and function of anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorders. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 17(4), 281–292. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2850.2010.01220.xCrossRef

Zaboski, B. A., & Storch, E. A. (2018). Comorbid autism spectrum disorder and anxiety disorders: A brief review. Future Neurology, 13(1), 31–37. https://doi.org/10.2217/fnl-2017-0030CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Zhou, N., Wang, J., & Chasson, G. S. (2018). Psychiatric problems of Chinese college students with high autism traits. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 54, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2018.06.008CrossRef

Zung, W. W. (1971). A rating instrument for anxiety disorders. Psychosomatics, 12(6), 371–379. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0033-3182(71)71479-0CrossRefPubMed

Titel: Brief Report: Local–Global Processing and Co-occurrence of Anxiety, Autistic and Obsessive–Compulsive Traits in a Non-clinical Sample
Auteurs: Chris Retzler
Jenny Retzler
Publicatiedatum: 04-02-2023
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 2/2025
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05886-4

Andere artikelen Uitgave 2/2025

Effectiveness of Robotic Intervention on Improving Social Development and Participation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder – A Randomised Controlled Trial

Original Article

Correction: Caregivers' Assessment of the Sensory Processing Patterns Exhibited by Children with Autism in the Gulf Region

Open Access
Correction

Describing Outcomes in Autistic Young Adults One Year After High School Graduation

Original Paper

Examining the Authenticity of Autistic Portrayals in US Adult and Children’s Television Shows Using Medical and Social Models of Disability

Original Paper

Longitudinal Follow-Up Study of Social Intervention Outcomes for Children on the Autism Spectrum

Original Article

Examining the Efficacy of Culturally Responsive Interventions for Autistic Children and Their Families: A Meta-Analysis

Original Paper

Bohn Stafleu van Loghum

Welkom bij Scalda & Bohn Stafleu van Loghum

Registreer

Login

Brief Report: Local–Global Processing and Co-occurrence of Anxiety, Autistic and Obsessive–Compulsive Traits in a Non-clinical Sample

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Andere artikelen Uitgave 2/2025

Effectiveness of Robotic Intervention on Improving Social Development and Participation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder – A Randomised Controlled Trial

Correction: Caregivers' Assessment of the Sensory Processing Patterns Exhibited by Children with Autism in the Gulf Region

Describing Outcomes in Autistic Young Adults One Year After High School Graduation

Examining the Authenticity of Autistic Portrayals in US Adult and Children’s Television Shows Using Medical and Social Models of Disability

Longitudinal Follow-Up Study of Social Intervention Outcomes for Children on the Autism Spectrum

Examining the Efficacy of Culturally Responsive Interventions for Autistic Children and Their Families: A Meta-Analysis

Bohn Stafleu van Loghum

Welkom bij Scalda & Bohn Stafleu van Loghum

Registreer

Login

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Log in om toegang te krijgen

Effectiveness of Robotic Intervention on Improving Social Development and Participation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder – A Randomised Controlled Trial

Correction: Caregivers' Assessment of the Sensory Processing Patterns Exhibited by Children with Autism in the Gulf Region

Describing Outcomes in Autistic Young Adults One Year After High School Graduation

Examining the Authenticity of Autistic Portrayals in US Adult and Children’s Television Shows Using Medical and Social Models of Disability

Longitudinal Follow-Up Study of Social Intervention Outcomes for Children on the Autism Spectrum

Examining the Efficacy of Culturally Responsive Interventions for Autistic Children and Their Families: A Meta-Analysis