The Moderating Role of Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for Schizophrenia on the Relationship between Autistic Traits and Psychosis Expression in the General Population
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Background and Hypothesis
Psychosis-related environmental risks are common in autism, with identified genetic connections to psychosis. Therefore, we hypothesized these risks may moderate the relationship between autistic traits (ATs) and psychotic experiences (PEs).
Study Design
First-wave data from 792 twins and siblings in the TwinssCan Project were analysed (n=792). PEs and ATs were assessed using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences and the Autism-Spectrum Quotient. Polygenic risk scores for schizophrenia and psychosis-associated environmental factors (childhood trauma (CT), bullying, negative life events, obstetric complications, cannabis use, winter birth, and hearing impairment) were tested for independent and interactive effects with ATs using separate multilevel linear regression models.
Study Results
ATs, all five CT subtypes, bullying, and negative life events were significantly associated with PEs (all P < 0.004). Emotional abuse (B: 0.08, 95% CI:0.05 to 0.11, P < 0.001), physical abuse (B: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.18, P = 0.001), sexual abuse (B: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.15, P = 0.002), and physical neglect (B: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.10, P = 0.001) significantly amplified the positive relationship between ATs and PEs, whereas emotional neglect (B: 0.04, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.07, P = 0.007) and negative life events (B: 0.007, 95% CI: 0.0005 to 0.014, P = 0.04) only showed a trend of interactions. No significant main or interacting effects of genetic and other risk factors were found.
Conclusions
These findings imply that CT might be a potential preventive target for psychosis expression in people with high ATs.
