The relationship between alexithymia and arousal and the effect of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on this relationship is examined in this research. In other research a relationship has been...Show moreThe relationship between alexithymia and arousal and the effect of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on this relationship is examined in this research. In other research a relationship has been established between ASD or alexithymia and high arousal. A prolonged increased arousal increases risk of psychosomatic problems. Therefore, research on arousal in ASD and alexithymia is relevant. In addition, studies on ASD have usually included men only, although there is evidence that women have other features of ASD. It is important to investigate this potential gender difference in the relation between ASD and arousal. In this study participated only women, 30 with ASD and 30 without ASD. Arousal was recorded by the average heartbeat per minute in two conditions: at rest and during stress. In the stress conditions participants looked at tree clips of social situations that evoke different emotions. In the resting condition participants watched a soothing movie clip. Alexithymia is measured by the BVAQ. Findings revealed that there were no significant differences in the arousal at rest or in stress between females with alexithymia or ASD and females without alexithymia or ASD. There were no significant relations between the two dimensions of alexithymia and arousal. Furthermore, ASD was not a moderator in the relation between alexithymia and arousal in either condition. As such the current research suggests that there is no higher risk of psychosomatic problems due to prolonged elevated arousal in people with ASD or alexithymia or a combination of both.Show less
Background: This study evaluated language and empathy in 8-to-12 year old boys with Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBD) (n = 31) and age-matched normal controls (n = 34). Method: Language was...Show moreBackground: This study evaluated language and empathy in 8-to-12 year old boys with Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBD) (n = 31) and age-matched normal controls (n = 34). Method: Language was measured by the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-4 Dutch Version, CELF-4-NL, 2010, a language test for the evaluation of language skills in school aged children. Empathy was assessed by the Basic Empathy Scale (BES), a self-report questionnaire for children. Results: Results revealed that language is not related to empathy and that DBD has no influence on the presence of affective and cognitive empathy. Only when it comes to generalized empathy it shows that normal controls possess higher levels of empathy than DBD boys. In addition, DBD does not have a moderating effect on the relationship between language and empathy. Conclusions: These findings are not in line with predictions based on the known literature which might be due to the fact that it is unsure if empathy and language were correctly measured. Conclusions based on these results should be done carefully. Further research is required. Keywords: Language, empathy, theory of mind, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, aggression, school aged children. Abbreviation: DBD: Disruptive Behavior Disorder; CD: Conduct Disorder; ODD: Oppositional Defiant Disorder.Show less
