Life experiences and worries in AS online survey

[Rosie_Moore]

Hello,

 

I am carrying out a research project to try to look at the links between people?s childhood experiences, current friendships and worries about other people in individuals who have Asperger syndrome. I am looking for people over the age of 18 who have Asperger syndrome to answer some questions about difficult childhood experiences, current friendships and worries online. Please click on the link below to go to my online survey.

 

Link to survey

 

Alternatively I can send you a paper copy of the questionnaires. I will also send you a stamped addressed envelope so that you can return them when they are completed. If you would prefer to answer the questions on paper please contact me on the details below.

 

All responses will be anonymous and confidential and the questionnaires will take about 1 hour to complete. Further information about the research is available online at the above link and is also included when a paper copy is requested by post.

 

This research is being carried out as part of my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London.

 

My contact details are:

 

Address: Rosie Moore, Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Department of Clinical Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX

 

Phone: 01784 414012

 

Fax: 01784 434347

 

Email: r.moore@rhul.ac.uk

 

Please contact me if you have any questions about the research. Thank you for taking the time to think about taking part in this research project.

 

Rosie

 

[Rosie_Moore]

Thank you very much to everyone who has completed my survey so far

 

I am still looking for more people to take part so please click on the link in my post above and take a look if you are interested.

 

Thanks again

 

Rosie

 

[Rosie_Moore]

Hello again,

 

Thanks again to everyone who has completed my online survey.

 

I am still looking for a few more people to complete it. If you are interested please click on the link in my first post.

 

Rosie

 

[Rosie_Moore]

I have nearly finished collecting responses for my survey. Thank you again to everyone who has taken part so far

 

If you would like to complete my online survey and you haven't already done so please click on the link in my post above.

 

I will post a link to my results here when I have them.

 

Rosie

[Rosie_Moore]

Summary of results: Life experiences and worries in Asperger’s syndrome

 

Thank you to everyone who took part in this study by completing an online survey. Here is a summary of the results of the study.

 

Aims of the study

Worries and suspicious thoughts about other people (sometimes called paranoia) have been found to be relatively common in the general population and there is some evidence that these types of thoughts might be more common in people with AS. This study aimed to investigate relationships between emotional and social factors and worries about other people (paranoia) in people with AS.

 

Participants

106 people who self-identified as having Asperger’s syndrome (AS) completed the online survey. Over half of the participants (57.5%, 61 participants) stated that they had received a diagnosis of AS from a professional. The remaining 42.5% (45 participants) had not received a diagnosis from a professional but did self-identify as having AS. The sample was made up of 44.3% (47) males and 55.7% (59) females. The mean age of the sample was 35.0 years (SD = 12.9 years; range = 18 – 66 years).

 

Results

Anxiety was found to predict paranoia; specifically meta-worry (worries about worries) was a significant predictor of paranoia. Adverse childhood experiences (abuse and neglect) were also found to predict paranoia; specifically participants who had experienced more psychological abuse in childhood were more likely to have paranoid thoughts. No relationship was found between either anomalous sensory experiences or quality of current friendships and paranoia.

 

Relatively high levels of adverse childhood experiences were reported by the adults who self-identified as having AS in this study.

 

Implications

Many adults with AS do not need support from services and are capable of living satisfying, independent and full lives; however there is a need for high quality specialist services for those adults with AS who do experience co-morbid mental health problems. Cognitive behavioural interventions that target anxiety and metacognition (thoughts about thoughts) might be particularly relevant for treating paranoia in this population. Clinicians working in both child and adult services should be aware of the potentially increased risk of adverse childhood experiences in the AS population and the impact this might have on mental health in adulthood.

 

Thank you again to those who completed the online survey. If you have any questions about this study please contact me at the address given below.

 

Rosie Moore

Trainee Clinical Psychologist

 

r.moore@rhul.ac.uk

Dept. of Clinical Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Surrey, TW20 0EX