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. 2023 Mar 28;23(1):200.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-04690-3.

Protocol for the development and testing of the schiZotypy Autism Questionnaire (ZAQ) in adults: a new screening tool to discriminate autism spectrum disorder from schizotypal disorder

Rizwan Parvaiz  1 , Erik Vindbjerg  2 , Bernard Crespi  3 , Francesca Happe  4 , Rik Schalbroeck  5 , Zainab Al-Sayegh  6 , Ida-Marie Danielsen  6 , Bruce Tonge  7 , Poul Videbech  8 , Ahmad Abu-Akel  9
Affiliations

Protocol for the development and testing of the schiZotypy Autism Questionnaire (ZAQ) in adults: a new screening tool to discriminate autism spectrum disorder from schizotypal disorder

Rizwan Parvaiz et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizotypal disorder (SD) both have a heterogenous presentation, with significant overlaps in symptoms and behaviour. Due to elevated recognition and knowledge of ASD worldwide, there is a growing rate of referrals from primary health professionals to specialised units. At all levels of assessment, the differential diagnostic considerations between ASD and SD exert major challenges for clinicians. Although several validated screening questionnaires exist for ASD and SD, none have differential diagnostic properties. Accordingly, in this study, we aim to develop a new screening questionnaire, the schiZotypy Autism Questionnaire (ZAQ), which provides a combined screening for both conditions, while also indicating the relative likelihood of each.

Methods: We aim to test 200 autistic patients and 100 schizotypy patients recruited from specialised psychiatric clinics and 200 controls from the general population (Phase 1). The results from ZAQ will be compared to the clinical diagnoses from interdisciplinary teams at specialised psychiatric clinics. After this initial testing phase, the ZAQ will be validated in an independent sample (Phase 2).

Conclusions: The aim of the study is to investigate the discriminative properties (ASD vs. SD), diagnostic accuracy, and validity of the schiZotypy Autism Questionnaire (ZAQ).

Funding: Funding was provided by Psychiatric Centre Glostrup, Copenhagen Denmark, Sofiefonden (Grant number: FID4107425), Trygfonden (Grant number:153588), Takeda Pharma.

Trial registration: Clinical Trials, NCT05213286, Registered 28 January 2022, clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05213286?cond = RAADS&draw = 2&rank = 1.

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder (we prefer Autism Spectrum Condition); Diagnostics; Questionnaire; Schizotypal Disorder.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Signed ICMJE forms have been obtained and can be provided upon request.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Schizotypal Disorder (SD). The encircled criteria mark the highest degree of clinical overlap
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Development of concepts and criteria (figure provided by Maria Nilsson)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Flow diagram Phase 1 of the ZAQ-study. Patients will undergo clinical evaluation and be divided into 3 groups: Patients with an ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) diagnosis, SD (schizotypal Disorder) diagnosis, neither ASD nor SD diagnosis. In parallel and independent from the clinical evaluation, participants will be assessed with the ZAQ schiZotypy Autism Questionnaire), RAADS-R-DK (Ritvo Adult Aspergers diagnostic Schedule – Revised – Danish translation) and SPQ (Schizotypy Personality Questionnaire)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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