Emotion processing, gender identity, and differential risk for anxiety and depression in autistic adults

项目摘要/摘要 研究项目长期目标：该项目将表征与以下相关的表型和脑因素 无智力障碍的自闭症谱系障碍[ASD]成人中抑郁和焦虑的共生 重点关注以下情况风险较高的未被研究的人群：女性[ASDF]和性别多样性 [ASDgd]个人。结果将为ASD患者共患抑郁和焦虑的生物标记物的识别提供信息。 总体研究设计：对3名18-30岁的自闭症青壮年样本进行检查。所有样本共享 表型测量：两个样本有共同的磁共振成像[MRI]方案：i)有目的 取样的ASDF、ASDgd和ASD男性将接受表型和MRI；ii)ASDF-和ASDgd-丰富的样本将 进行表型分析；iii)现有表型分析&来自一项过度抽样的ASDF研究的MRI数据集。目标1： 描述情绪识别/意识(述情障碍)和情绪调节[ER]对抑郁和 焦虑和性的角色&性别认同在这些影响中的持续衡量标准。方法：多层次 通过生态瞬时评估收集的抑郁和焦虑症状的建模[EMA]将检查 述情障碍作为抑郁和焦虑的认知因素及其与内质网的关系。目标2：描绘大脑 述情障碍相关网络及其对抑郁/焦虑/内质网的影响。方法：回归建模将 将结构和功能磁共振脑连通性指标与述情障碍、ER、抑郁和焦虑联系起来。 与健康相关：自闭症成年人经历抑郁和焦虑的比例较高。与这些相关的 在某些情况下，自闭症成人表现出惊人的自杀水平。人们对这其中的原因没有很好的理解 这是，而且对包括认知和神经因素在内的机制的研究相对较少 使自闭症成年人容易患上这些严重的心理健康问题。 候选人的职业目标和发展计划：麦奎德博士的长期目标是成为一名独立的 研究人员，主要研究成年后的自闭症和改善心理健康的相关因素 这群人的健康。她的短期目标是描述大脑的特征&预测的行为/认知因素 ASDF和ASDgd成人中抑郁和焦虑的易感性增加。建立在她的多学科基础上 背景，McQuaid博士将接受1)ASD演示、性别多样性和现象学&方面的培训 自闭症的情绪/焦虑测量；2)EMA和计算技能；3)专业发展和开放科学。 环境：麦奎德博士得到了一个有凝聚力的专家科学家团队的支持，他们的工作内容与 补充性研究项目。他们将提供集中、集中和无缝的指导体验， 他们各自的专业知识和机构关系将为麦奎德博士提供必要的指导和 实现研究目标和培训目标的资源。总而言之，研究和培训、导师团队、 K01提供的环境将作为桥梁，成功地将McQuaid博士从她 目前的职位是一名完全独立的调查员。

Project Summary/Abstract Research Project Long-Term Objectives: The project will characterize phenotypic & brain factors related to co-occurring depression & anxiety in adults with autism spectrum disorder [ASD] without intellectual disability, with a focus on understudied populations at elevated risk for these conditions: females [ASDf] and gender diverse [ASDgd] individuals. Results will inform biomarker identification for comorbid depression & anxiety in ASD. Overall research design: 3 samples of ASD young adults (aged 18-30y) will be examined. All samples share phenotyping measures; two samples have a common magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] protocol: i) purposively sampled ASDf, ASDgd & ASD males will undergo phenotyping & MRI; ii) ASDf- & ASDgd-enriched sample will undergo phenotyping; iii) existing phenotyping & MRI dataset from a study that oversampled ASDf. Aim 1: Delineate impacts of emotion identification/awareness (alexithymia) & emotion regulation [ER] on depression & anxiety, and roles of sex & a continuous measure of gender identity in these impacts. Methods: multi-level modeling of depressive & anxious symptoms collected via ecological momentary assessment [EMA] will examine alexithymia as a cognitive factor in depression & anxiety, and its association with ER. Aim 2: Delineate brain networks associated with alexithymia & its impacts on depression/anxiety/ER. Methods: regression modeling will relate structural & functional MRI brain connectivity metrics to alexithymia, ER & depression & anxiety. Health Relatedness: ASD adults experience depression & anxiety at elevated rates. Associated with these conditions, ASD adults show alarmingly elevated levels of suicidality. There is no good understanding of why this is, and there is relatively little research on mechanisms—including cognitive and neural factors—that predispose ASD adults to these serious mental health conditions. Candidate’s Career Goals & Development Plan: Dr. McQuaid’s long-term goal is to become an independent investigator with a research program focused on ASD in adulthood and factors relevant to improving mental health in this population. Her short-term goals are to characterize brain & behavioral/cognitive factors that predict increased vulnerability for depression & anxiety among ASDf & ASDgd adults. Building on her multidisciplinary background, Dr. McQuaid will receive training in 1) ASD presentations, gender diversity, & phenomenology & measurement of mood/anxiety in ASD; 2) EMA & computing skills; 3) professional development & open science. Environment: Dr. McQuaid is supported by a cohesive team of expert scientists with overlapping & complementary research programs. They will provide an intensive, focused, & seamless mentorship experience, and their respective expertise & institutional affiliations will provide Dr. McQuaid with the requisite guidance & resources to achieve the research aims & training goals. Taken together, the research & training, mentor team, & environment afforded by the K01 will serve as a bridge that will successfully transition Dr. McQuaid from her current position to that of a fully independent investigator.