Randomized trial compares autistic symptoms and empathy in adolescents with bipolar disorder and DMDD, suggesting implications for treatment.
Key Points
The study aims to compare autistic symptoms and empathy in adolescents with bipolar disorder and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder to healthy adolescents.
Included 21 adolescents each with bipolar disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, and healthy adolescents aged 12-18 years.
Used Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) to evaluate autistic symptoms.
Employed KA-SI Empathic Tendency Scale for Children and Adolescents (KA-SI ETS) to evaluate empathy.
Significant differences in autistic symptoms were found among the groups, with healthy adolescents scoring lower on ADI-R and SCQ.
Healthy adolescents exhibited better empathy skills compared to those in the bipolar disorder and DMDD groups.
DMDD adolescents demonstrated more autistic symptoms and empathy difficulties than those with bipolar disorder.