The validity of using self-reports to assess emotion regulation abilities in adults with autism spectrum disorder

Berthoz, Sylvie and Hill, Elisabeth L.. 2005. The validity of using self-reports to assess emotion regulation abilities in adults with autism spectrum disorder. European Psychiatry, 20(3), pp. 291-298. ISSN 09249338 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

Purpose. – The current paper focused on the validity of using self-reports to assess emotion regulation abilities in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). To assess this we sought responses to two alexithymia self-reports and a depression self-report at two time points from adults with and without ASD. Materials and methods. – An initial sample of 27 adults withASD and 35 normal adults completed the 20-item Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-20), the Bermond and Vorst alexithymia questionnaire-form B (BVAQ-B), and the Beck depression inventory (BDI), at test time 1. Of these individuals, 19 ASD and 29 controls participated again after a period ranging from 4 to 12 months. Results. – ASD participants were able to report about their own emotions using self-reports. BVAQ-B showed reasonable convergent validity and test–retest reliability in both groups. Scores on both alexithymia scales were stable across the two participant groups. However, results revealed that although the TAS-20 total score discriminated between the two groups at both time points, the BVAQ-B total score did not. Moreover, the TAS-20 showed stronger test–retest reliability than the BVAQ-B. Conclusion. – ASD participants appeared more depressed and more alexithymic than the controls. The use of the BVAQ-B, as an additional assessment of alexithymia, indicated that ASD patients have a specific type of alexithymia characterised by increased difficulties in the cognitive domain rather than the affective aspects of alexithymia.

Item Type:

Article

Identification Number (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2004.06.013

Keywords:

alexithymia, autism spectrum disorder, emotion processing, reliability, validity, Bermond Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia Scale

Departments, Centres and Research Units:

Psychology

Dates:

DateEvent
2005Published

Item ID:

2586

Date Deposited:

11 Mar 2010 17:22

Last Modified:

30 Jun 2017 15:46

Peer Reviewed:

Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.

URI:

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/2586

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