Formal Characteristics of Thematic Apperception Test Narratives of Adult Patients with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. A Preliminary Study

Elisabeth Eurelings-Bontekoe,Kirsten Zwinkels,Moshen Edrisi,Hanneke Schaap-Jonker

doi:10.4236/psych.2011.27105

Abstract

This study explored the usefulness of a Thematic Apperception Test (TAT, Murray, 1943) narrative scoring system to detect signs of autistic information processing. A total of 27 patients with an Autism Spectrum Disor- der were compared to a control group (N = 67) of patients with other psychiatric disorders. As an external indi- rect measure of social functioning two dimensions of the Social Cognition and Object Relation Scale (SCORS; Westen,1985) were used: Capacity for Emotional and Moral Investment in Relationships and Understanding of Social Causality. TAT narratives were rated on the prevalence of eight phenomena, as proposed by Edrisi and Eurelings-Bontekoe (2009). Autistic patients showed a lower level of social insight and were particularly char- acterized by high scores on Weak Central Coherence, Jumping to Conclusions and Difficulty with describing/ interpreting movements. Results provide preliminary support for the usefulness of the TAT scoring system, but need to be replicated using larger samples and blind scoring.

Highlights

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by a triad of symptoms: limited reciprocal social interactions, disordered verbal and nonverbal communication, and restricted, repetitive behaviors or circumscribed interests (Tager-Flusberg & Caronna, 2007)
Patients are diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) if they suffer from limited reciprocal social interactions combined with either disordered verbal or non verbal communication or restricted repetitive behaviors
Difficulties with describing/interpreting movements was negatively correlated with EI only

Summary

Introduction

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by a triad of symptoms: limited reciprocal social interactions, disordered verbal and nonverbal communication, and restricted, repetitive behaviors or circumscribed interests (Tager-Flusberg & Caronna, 2007). Patients with Autism, AS and PDD-NOS share the feature of limited reciprocal social interactions. In addition to this feature, patients with Autism show disordered verbal and nonverbal communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors or circumscribed interests. Patients with AS suffer from limited reciprocal social interactions, and show restricted, repetitive behaviors or circumscribed interests, but no deficits in verbal or nonverbal communication. Patients are diagnosed with PDD-NOS if they suffer from limited reciprocal social interactions combined with either disordered verbal or non verbal communication or restricted repetitive behaviors. Problems occur especially in complex information processing, involving the processes that pose the highest information processing demands (Beaumont & Newcombe, 2006)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion