成人高機能自閉症スペクトラム障害におけるWechsler式知能検査と自閉症スペクトラム指数との関連

Relationship between the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Ⅲand the Autism-Spectrum Quotient in Japanese Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder with Average Intelligence Quotients

抄録

　知能水準が平均域の成人自閉症スペクトラム障害（Autism Spectrum Disorder；ASD）患者30人を対象に，Wechsler式知能検査（Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Ⅲ；WAIS-Ⅲ）と自閉症スペクトラム指数（Autism-Spectrum Quotient；AQ）の関連を検討した。ASD患者のWAIS-Ⅲでは言語に関する認知機能が他の認知機能に比べて高かった。さらにWAIS-Ⅲの動作性IQや絵画配列とAQの注意の切り替えやコミュニケーションの間に正の相関がみられた。すなわち予想されるのとは逆に，動作性IQや絵画配列の能力が高いほど主観的には困難を強く自覚していることが示唆された。ASD診断の補助ツールとして臨床でよく用いられるWAIS-ⅢとAQの結果は慎重に解釈されるべきである。

　We examined the relationship between the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Ⅲ (WAIS-Ⅲ) and the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) in 30 Japanese patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with average intelligence quotients (IQs). Patients with ASD showed higher abilities in verbal cognition than they did in other cognitive functions. Furthermore, the performance IQ and the picture arrangement scores of the WAIS-Ⅲ were positively correlated with the attention switching and communication scores of the AQ. The patients with ASD that had higher abilities for the performance IQ or picture arrangement had higher subjective difficulty. It is suggested that we should interpret the scores of the WAIS-Ⅲ and AQ carefully to use them as assistance tools for diagnosing ASD.