PhD Scientific Days 2025

Poster Session III. - M: Mental Health Sciences

Symptom network structures of social cognition and self-perception in autism, schizophrenia and non-diagnosed, matched controls

Name of the presenter

Holka Szilárd

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Authors

Szilárd Holka¹, Dániel Sörnyei², Ágota Vass², Levente Rónai³, Kinga Farkas²

1: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
2: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University
3: Institute of Psychology, University of Szeged

Text of the abstract

Introduction
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCH) are distinct neurodevelopmental disorders. Conceptualization is shifting through shared features in social cognition deficits, insecure attachment styles and self-disorders. Transdiagnostic approaches with complex modeling techniques, including network analysis (NA) are on the rise. NA offers novel insights into interrelationships among key constructs in psychopathologies, revealing potential underlying similarities, intervention targets.
Aims
We compared symptom networks of individuals with ASD, SCH, and matched neurotypicals (mNTP). Our aim was to identify key constructs, connection patterns to offer potential intervention targets. We hypothesized that the ASD network differs from control (mNTP), and that mentalization and disorganized schizotypy are the most central in the clinical groups.
Methods
Cross-sectional survey data was analysed: 156 individuals with ASD, 62 with SCH and 454 mNTPs (selected from a larger community sample) were included in the final sample. Self-report questionnaires assessed psychological inflexibility, mentalization, insecure attachment, perceived social support, minimal and narrative self, schizotypal- and autistic traits, trait anxiety. Graphical Gaussian Models were applied to estimate relationships between constructs. Centrality metrics were investigated. Network Comparison Test evaluated local and global differences. Accuracy and stability were checked with bootstrapping methods.
Results
The mNTP had the most integrated network, followed by ASD and SCH. Mentalization was highest in centrality in the mNTP, minimal self in the ASD, narrative self in the SCH. Hypotheses were partially confirmed: ASD and mNTP differed in global strength, mentalization was central in mNTP. Clinically relevant patterns to the organization of the self are observed. SCH network should be interpreted cautiously due to sample size.
Conclusions
Interventions targeting core-self may benefit ASD, while narrative self and attachment may be key in SCH. Mentalization’s role in mNTP underlines it as a protective factor in adaptive functioning. Patterns suggest focusing on isolated constructs may overlook functional significance within a broader network. Interconnected mNTP network reflects greater psychological integration and resilience.
Funding: NKFIH, OTKA-PD-146424.