TY  - JOUR
AU  - Kılıç, Buket
AU  - Ünal, Dilek
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/10/27
TI  - A Narrative Review on the Relationship Between Autistic Traits and Anxiety
JO  - OBM Neurobiology
SP  - 307
VL  - 09
IS  - 04
AB  - Although anxiety and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are common co-morbidities, the relationship between autistic traits and anxiety disorders/symptoms has been increasingly researched in recent years. This review aims to compile the studies conducted on this topic and enhance our understanding of it. All publications up to September 1, 2024, on PubMed that contained the terms ‘anxiety’, ‘autistic traits’, ‘autism feature’, ‘autism-like symptoms’, and ‘ASD-like symptoms’, in their titles or abstracts were reviewed. The inclusion criteria were research articles, reviews, and case reports exploring the link between autistic traits and anxiety in non-ASD populations. Only publications in English were included; studies involving individuals diagnosed with ASD were excluded. A significant relationship between autistic traits and anxiety disorders has been demonstrated across different age groups. In studies, autistic traits have been most commonly investigated in relation to social anxiety disorder. Some studies have discussed how to distinguish between social anxiety and autistic traits. However, some authors emphasize that due to the symptom overlap between the two conditions, caution should be taken in interpreting the measurement results of these traits. There are studies indicating that communication difficulties, in particular, are related to anxiety. Additionally, factors such as alexithymia and sensory hypersensitivity also play a role in the relationship between autistic traits and anxiety. Studies have shown that autistic traits are associated with anxiety symptoms, particularly social anxiety. More studies on how autistic traits relate to different anxiety disorders and their treatments could lead to more personalized diagnosis and therapy.
SN  - 2573-4407
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2504307
DO  - 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2504307
ID  - Kılıç2025
ER  -