What is a "normal" SPQ score for an Aspie?

Page 1 of 1 [ 8 posts ] 

The_Walrus
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator

User avatar

Joined: 27 Jan 2010
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Posts: 8,809
Location: London

27 Jun 2011, 2:45 pm

I have been worried for a while about the possibility that I might be developing schizophrenia, as I have been paranoid, my meltdowns have been getting worse, I had been hearing references to myself in songs (especially those written by John Lennon) and I have been having auditory hallucinations. In that period, I have been assessed for the second time in my life (the first time was when I was diagonosed with AS) and was given the "all clear" (still just AS), though I did have some of the symptoms of schizophrenia and depression.

I just did a SPT-A test online here and scored 60.5 out of 74. However, a lot of the questions were stuff like "do people say you're weird?" and "do you enjoy social occasions?" which have a lot of overlap with AS.

Of the categories, I reckon "excessive social anxiety", "unusual perceptual experiences", "odd or eccentric behaviour", "no close friends", "odd speech" and "constricted affect" overlap with AS.

So, what would the "base" result be for someone with AS, and should I worry about a score of 60.5?



littlelily613
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 11 Feb 2011
Age: 40
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,608
Location: Canada

27 Jun 2011, 3:46 pm

I just took the test online as well to see where I would fall. I am definitely not on the schizophrenia spectrum--I have been tested for it, and have no symptoms except those which are similar to autism. I have classic autism, am severe but still on the high-functioning end. On the SPT-A test I scored 36. I would expect people with autism to get some sort of score because some of the symptoms are overlapping.

Indeed, your score is fairly high. Do you see a psychologist. I don't know what the cut-off is, but I do know that sometimes aspergers is mistaken for schizotypal and vice-versa because some of the symptoms similar in each of the conditions. The DSM currently excludes a person from having both schizotypal and an autism spectrum disorder, however, so if you suspect a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, you may want to discuss it with someone who can assess you further. You might not have schizotypal, but you still may want to look into it a bit more if you feel those scores might be leading to that.



The_Walrus
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator

User avatar

Joined: 27 Jan 2010
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Posts: 8,809
Location: London

27 Jun 2011, 3:53 pm

littlelily613 wrote:
I just took the test online as well to see where I would fall. I am definitely not on the schizophrenia spectrum--I have been tested for it, and have no symptoms except those which are similar to autism. I have classic autism, am severe but still on the high-functioning end. On the SPT-A test I scored 36. I would expect people with autism to get some sort of score because some of the symptoms are overlapping.

Indeed, your score is fairly high. Do you see a psychologist. I don't know what the cut-off is, but I do know that sometimes aspergers is mistaken for schizotypal and vice-versa because some of the symptoms similar in each of the conditions. The DSM currently excludes a person from having both schizotypal and an autism spectrum disorder, however, so if you suspect a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, you may want to discuss it with someone who can assess you further. You might not have schizotypal, but you still may want to look into it a bit more if you feel those scores might be leading to that.

I see a psychologist and a psychiatrist, I can't remember which is which though. I'm British, so I don't think the DSM applies. I think AS is a better fit that schizophrenia ultimately, especially as my hallucinations only come when I am stressed. I think it was the psychiatrist who performed my most recent assessment and she seemed to be considering schizophrenia at one point, but she ultimately ruled it out. I might speak to her about it again, though I don't know when I'm seeing either of them again.



littlelily613
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 11 Feb 2011
Age: 40
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,608
Location: Canada

27 Jun 2011, 4:00 pm

Schizotypal is not full-blown schizophrenia (it would like PDD-NOS in relation to classic autism, I think). If you are having hallucinations, I would not totally discount schizotypal because hallucinations are not a symptom of the autism spectrum. In the UK, they use the ICD instead of the DSM. In the ICD, Aspergers and Schizotypal are also exclusive. You can the following link for more information:

http://www.mentalhealth.com/icd/p22-pe03.html

This is because Aspergers and Schizotypal have many similar symptoms; however, there is a point where they veer off into two separate directions. People with Aspergers do not have hallucinations (unless there is some other underlying conditions). This is why I think you should be open to hearing about the Schizotypal possibility as well from your doctors' perspectives.



The_Walrus
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator

User avatar

Joined: 27 Jan 2010
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Posts: 8,809
Location: London

27 Jun 2011, 5:24 pm

Thanks for your help.
The ICD says delusions and hallucinations are "usually occurring without external provocation." Mine usually go hand in hand with stress, and the letter I got after my assessment said that the stress was probably the cause, rather than any extra underlying condition.
If I can only be diagnosed with one of schizoid condition and Aspergers, I think another assessment would be useless because I definitely have Aspergers and only possibly have a schizoid condition (paranoia, ideas of reference and mild auditory hallucinations versus obsessions, sensory stuff, need for routines, etc.).



MudandStars
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 16 Oct 2009
Age: 36
Gender: Female
Posts: 608
Location: Australia

27 Jun 2011, 9:33 pm

I got 28 out of 74. Scoring relatively highly on "excessive social anxiety", "no close friends" and "odd or eccentric behaviour" but low on other categories. Some of the characteristics explored overlap with ASD but many do not.


_________________
-M&S


?Two men looked through prison bars; one saw mud and the other stars.? Frederick Langbridge


littlelily613
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 11 Feb 2011
Age: 40
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,608
Location: Canada

27 Jun 2011, 11:05 pm

The_Walrus wrote:
The ICD says delusions and hallucinations are "usually occurring without external provocation." Mine usually go hand in hand with stress, and the letter I got after my assessment said that the stress was probably the cause, rather than any extra underlying condition.


The ICD says this for Aspergers? Because Aspergers does not have hallucinations as one its symptoms. That would be something that is on the schizophrenia spectrum....


_________________
Diagnosed with classic Autism
AQ score= 48
PDD assessment score= 170 (severe PDD)
EQ=8 SQ=93 (Extreme Systemizer)
Alexithymia Quiz=164/185 (high)


The_Walrus
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator

User avatar

Joined: 27 Jan 2010
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Posts: 8,809
Location: London

28 Jun 2011, 10:27 am

littlelily613 wrote:
The_Walrus wrote:
The ICD says delusions and hallucinations are "usually occurring without external provocation." Mine usually go hand in hand with stress, and the letter I got after my assessment said that the stress was probably the cause, rather than any extra underlying condition.


The ICD says this for Aspergers? Because Aspergers does not have hallucinations as one its symptoms. That would be something that is on the schizophrenia spectrum....

No, she just thought the stress alone could be causing the hallucinations, rather than it being part of Aspergers or me having another condition.