Autism Traits in Adolescents With Social Anxiety Disorder: Associations With Parental Broader Autism Phenotype

Identification of Autism Traits in Adolescents With Social Anxiety Disorder and Evaluation of Their Association With the Broader Autism Phenotype in Their Parents

This observational study aims to examine autism-related traits in adolescents diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and to evaluate their associations with broader autism phenotype (BAP) features in their parents. A total of 109 adolescents aged 11-17 and their parents were included. Standardized scales were used to assess social anxiety severity and autism traits in adolescents, and BAP characteristics in parents.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Autistic Disorder; Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: No intervention (observational study)

Detailed Description

Autism spectrum traits and social anxiety share clinical and cognitive features, particularly in the domains of social communication and interaction. These overlaps suggest that autistic traits may be present in adolescents diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD), even in the absence of a formal autism diagnosis. Furthermore, the concept of the broader autism phenotype (BAP) suggests that subclinical autism-related features may be observed in parents of individuals with autism traits.

This study includes 109 adolescents (aged 11-17) diagnosed with SAD and their parents. The adolescents completed a standardized scale assessing social anxiety severity, while parents completed the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) for their children and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) to assess BAP characteristics in themselves. The study aimed to explore the associations between adolescents' autism-related traits and their social anxiety severity, and to evaluate how parental BAP scores (particularly fathers') may be associated with these traits.

Note: This study involved prospective recruitment and data collection; however, registration was completed retrospectively after the study was completed.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 109

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Ankara, Turkey, 06810
    • Ankara Bilkent City Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

This study included 109 adolescents aged 11-17 years diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder, along with their biological parents. The sample consisted of 87 females and 22 males. Participants were recruited prospectively from clinical outpatient settings.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Adolescents aged 11-17 years diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAB). Availability of at least one biological parent willing to participate. Ability to provide informed consent/assent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Presence of intellectual disability or severe neurological disorder. Comorbid psychiatric diagnoses that could interfere with assessment (e.g., psychosis).

Non-fluency in the language of assessment.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Social Anxiety Severity	Severity of social anxiety symptoms measured by the Social Anxiety Disorder Severity Scale - Child Form.	At baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Autism Traits in Adolescents	Autism spectrum traits in adolescents assessed by the Social Responsiveness Scale, completed by parents.	At baseline

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Parental Broader Autism Phenotype	Parental broader autism phenotype evaluated using the Autism Spectrum Questionnaire.	At baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ankara City Hospital Bilkent
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Şermin Bilgen Ulgar, Medical Doctor, Ankara City Hospital Bilkent

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 11, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 10, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 30, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 30, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): August 6, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 6, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 30, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Anxiety; Parents; Autistic Disorder; Phobia, Social; Social Interaction
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Phobic Disorders; Phobia, Social; Anxiety Disorders; Autistic Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: AnkaraCH_SAD_Autism_2025_01; E2-24-6099 (Other Identifier: Ankara Bilkent City Hospital Ethics Committee)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will be shared upon reasonable request with qualified researchers, in accordance with ethical approvals and participant confidentiality.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No