Empathy, Psychopathy and Autism: Behavioural Associations and the Role of an Oxytocin Receptor Polymorphism in a Non-clinical Adult Population

NCT ID: NCT04746027

Last Updated: 2021-02-09

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 126 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2017-07-01
• Study Completion Date: 2018-11-01

Brief Summary

This is an investigation into the associations between psychopathic traits, autistic traits and empathy (cognitive and affective) in the general population as measured using three self report questionnaires and one behavioural task. Participants will also be genotyped for OXTR rs53576 to assess whether this mutation associates with any of the behavioural traits investigated.

Detailed Description

In clinical populations with psychopathy or autism, associations with different forms of empathy have been found. An increase in autistic traits has been found to be associated with a decrease in cognitive empathy traits but no difference in affective empathy traits, while an increase in psychopathic traits has been found to be associated with a decrease in both cognitive and affective empathy traits. The current investigation is to establish whether this previously observed relationship between cognitive empathy, affective empathy, psychopathic traits and autistic traits found in clinical populations is also found in a non-clinical population. This will be assessed by three self report questionnaires and one behavioural task (as described in 'Outcome Measures'). This investigation will also assess the potential link between of all of the traits measured and a specific SNP on the Oxytocin Receptor Gene (OXTR rs53576) to establish whether this mutation is associated with any of these behaviours.

Conditions

Empathy; Autism; Psychopathy

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• At least 18 years of age at time of participation
• Proficient English reading comprehension

Exclusion Criteria

• Current or previous diagnosis of a psychopathy, autism or related conditions.
• Not proficient in English reading comprehension

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

St Mary's University College

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Yiannis Mavrommatis, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

St. Mary's University, Twickenham

Kate Lawrence, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

St Marys University

Locations

St Mary's University

London, , United Kingdom

Countries

United Kingdom

Study Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Other Identifiers

SMEC_2016-17_092

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id