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Themenschwerpunkt

Autistische Züge bei Patientinnen mit Borderline-Persönlichkeitsstörung unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Empathie

Published Online:September 12, 2016https://doi.org/10.1024/1661-4747/a000286

Abstract

Zusammenfassung. Auch wenn in der Literatur über eine häufige Komorbidität zwischen der Borderline-Persönlichkeitsstörung (BPS) und der Autismus-Spektrum-Störung (ASS) diskutiert wird und überlappende Merkmale zwischen diesen beiden Störungsbildern nachgewiesen wurden, finden sich bisher nur wenige empirische Untersuchungen zu diesem Thema. Zur Einschätzung der Ausprägung autistischer Züge in der BPS-Population wurde in Rahmen dieser Studie der Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) von 38 BPS-Patientinnen erhoben und Zusammenhänge zwischen der Symptomatik der beiden Störungsbilder untersucht. Mit Hilfe des Interpersonal Reactivity Index und der Toronto Alexithymia Scale wurden insbesondere die Bereiche Empathie und Alexithymie genauer betrachtet. Die explorative Auswertung dieser Studie ergab, dass fast die Hälfte der BPS-Patientinnen den Cut-off-Wert im AQ überschritten und somit autistische Züge in einer Subgruppe der BPS-Betroffenen ausgeprägt zu sein scheinen. Weiterhin fanden sich in dieser Subgruppe niedrigere Werte für kognitive Empathie und höhere Alexithymie-Werte. Die Relevanz und Implikationen dieser Ergebnisse im klinischen Kontext werden diskutiert.


Autistic traits in patients with borderline personality disorder

Abstract. Clinical observation suggests that there might be an important overlap between Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and Autism spectrum disorders (ASS). Given this background it was the aim of this study to investigate autistic traits in patients with borderline personality disorder with special attention on cognitive empathy and alexithymia. 38 women with Borderline personality disorder participated. Autistic traits were assessed with the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), facets of empathy with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) und alexithymia with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS). The results show that almost half of the BPD patients scored beyond the ASS cut-off of the AQ. The subgroup with high autistic traits had lower scores for cognitive empathy and higher alexithymia scores. Implications for clinicians are discussed.

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