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Contribution title	3283 - An exploratory comparison analysis of executive functions between autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia
Contribution code	PS03-21 (P)
Authors	ALICIA GARCIA ALCON University General Hospital Gregorio Marañón MARÍA JOSÉ PENZOL University General Hospital Gregorio Marañón ÁNGEL DEL REY-MEJÍAS University General Hospital Gregorio Marañón JESSICA MERCHÁN-NARANJO University General Hospital Gregorio Marañón Covadonga M Diaz-Caneja Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, CIBERSAM, IiSGM, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Presenter Mara Parellada Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, IiSGM, CIBER, Madrid, Spain
Form of presentation	Poster
Topic	ASD Psychosis
Abstract	Objectives Current compelling evidence supports the idea of a possible overlap between Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia (SZ) as part of a pathophysiological continuum [Rapoport et al. 2009]. There is large and independent evidence regarding neurocognition performanc in ASD or SZ; however, comparison studies are scarce and generally limited to global intellectual capacity differences [Bölte et al. 2002]. In this study, we aim to focus on EF differences between ASD and SZ. Methods Fifty-four patients (13-34 years) with a diagnosis of ASD (N=35) according to the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Autism Diagnostic Interview-revised (ADI-R) or DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of SZ (N=19) with an onset between 2-5 years prior to assessment, all with an Intelligence quotient (IQ) >50, were recruited. IQ was assessed with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children or Adults, as appropriate. EF were divided into 5 cognitive domains: attention, working memory, mental flexibility, impulse control and problem solving, and measured using the following tests: Stroop Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Trail Making Test (TMT), and subtests Direct, Indirect Digit, and Letter-Number Sequencing Span from Wechsler Scales. T Student and Anova analyses were used to compare ASD and SZ groups. Statistically significance threshold was set at p<0.05 with SPSS 18. Results Reference values (T scores) were obtained from a sample of 33 healthy controls (13-28 years). There were no statistically (p=0.83) differences between ASD and SZ groups in IQ (ASD mean=88.29, SZ mean=89.73). Concerning EF domains, in our sample both clinical groups did not differ in their performance in mental flexibility (p=0.573) and in working memory (p=0.751): significant lower scores in WCST subtests (p=0.018) and a lower score tendency (p=0.071) in working memory, comparing to mean values. However, they did perform differently in attention (p=0.019): ASD group performed worse than SZ, and in impulse control (p=0.042): ASD group performed higher than SZ, both below mean values. No difficulties were found in problem solving (p=0.089) in either group. Conclusions Difficulties in EF in both disorders appear to overlap in some domains and perform different in others. Characterize clinical similarities and differences between ASD and SZC allow us to understand deeply the possible overlap among both disorders, in order to develop specific neurocognitive therapies.