Mentalising on the broader autism phenotype: a global or modular impairment? & Clinical research portfolio

Wisley, Mary (2013) Mentalising on the broader autism phenotype: a global or modular impairment? & Clinical research portfolio. D Clin Psy thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Previous research has shown that children with a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome or High Functioning Autism (AS/HFA) have difficulty with mentalising tasks. There is also limited evidence that siblings may also have subtle deficits in ‘theory of mind’ consistent with a broader autistic phenotype model. This study aims to investigate whether deficits in mentalising about others is specific to sensory modality (modular) or mediated by a global impairment in mentalising.
METHODS:
Thirteen children who had a sibling with AS/HFA were compared to thirteen children who did not, matched on age, gender and verbal IQ. Children completed a range of self and other mentalising tasks.
RESULTS:
No significant differences in mentalising were detected between the groups. Descriptive statistics indicated a trend for male siblings to have higher AAQ scores and longer mean response times on the RME than female siblings and controls.
CONCLUSIONS:
Larger samples and replication would be required to ascertain whether any significant impairment in mentalising about others across modalities is present in siblings, and to clarify the impact of gender and social learning theory. Formal modification of the auditory test (RMV) for younger children would be helpful in order to robustly compare differences in performance across modalities both within and between groups.

• Item Type: Thesis (D Clin Psy)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: High Functioning Autism/ Asperger Syndrome, Siblings, Mentalising, Theory of Mind
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology; R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Supervisor's Name: Dorris, Dr. Liam
• Date of Award: 2013
• Depositing User: Ms Mary Wisley
• Unique ID: glathesis:2013-4564
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 26 Oct 2013 11:28
• Last Modified: 26 Oct 2013 11:42
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/4564