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Corbett BA, Muscatello RA, McGonigle T, Vandekar S, Burroughs C, Sparks S. Trajectory of depressive symptoms over adolescence in autistic and neurotypical youth. Mol Autism 2024; 15:18. [PMID: 38698474 PMCID: PMC11064411 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-024-00600-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescence coincides with a dramatic rise in the onset of psychiatric conditions including depression. Depression symptoms may be particularly prevalent and impairing for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While prior research suggests adolescence is associated with worsening depression symptoms for typically developing (TD) and autistic youth, it is unclear if they follow a similar course. METHOD The study examined the trajectory of depressive symptoms in autistic and neurotypical youth over a 4-year longitudinal study using linear and logistic mixed effects models. In youth with clinically relevant depressive scores (t-score > 65), moderating factors (i.e., diagnosis, age, puberty, sex) were explored. During Year 1, the sample included 244 youth 10-to-13 years: 140 in the ASD group (36 females) and 104 in the TD group (46 females). RESULTS Autistic youth had elevated depression scores compared to TD peers (p < 0.001) and females were higher than males in both groups (p = 0.001). There was significant diagnosis by age (p < 0.001) and diagnosis by pubertal stage (p < 0.05) interactions. In the ASD group, elevated depressive scores presented in early adolescence and decreased during middle adolescence and puberty, whereas the TD group showed the opposite trend with an increase in depression symptoms with advancing development. LIMITATIONS Limitations include an unequal sex distribution (fewer females), non-representative autistic sample (e.g., cognition and race/ethnicity), and potential confound of the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Autistic youth present with higher rates of depressive symptoms early in development; yet, approaching middle adolescence and puberty, the symptom trajectory in the autistic youth declines coinciding with an increase in the TD youth. While group trajectories are divergent, they lead to similar levels of depression in late adolescence with higher symptoms in females. Findings suggest a period of quiescence in depressive symptomology influenced by biopsychosocial factors impacting affective profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blythe A Corbett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1500 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Rachael A Muscatello
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1500 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Trey McGonigle
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Simon Vandekar
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Christina Burroughs
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1500 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Sloane Sparks
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1500 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
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Mohamed Z, Russell A, Palmer M, Simonoff E, Hollocks MJ. Co-designing behavioural activation for depression for autistic adolescents: A case series. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 29:608-623. [PMID: 38286623 PMCID: PMC10945993 DOI: 10.1177/13591045241229583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Autistic youth are at high risk of depression, but there are few psychological interventions that have been specifically designed for use with this population. Behavioural activation (BA) is a particularly promising approach for autistic adolescents, having an established evidence-base for the treatment of depression in non-autistic people, and with a strong focus on behavioural, rather than cognitive change, which is a challenge for some autistic people. In this study, we worked with autistic adolescents and clinicians to co-design a BA-informed intervention to be delivered in an online format. We then conducted a pilot case-series with seven autistic adolescents with depression. Our focus was on establishing the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention but clinical outcomes on both self- and parent-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety are also presented. Our results indicate the intervention to be acceptable and feasible for autistic adolescents, with six out of seven participants being retained to the end of the intervention. Qualitative feedback indicated that all participants found the intervention a positive experience and would recommend it to others. Similarly, all participants found the online format acceptable, with 64% preferring this format to face-to-face therapy. Qualitative feedback and suggestions for refinement will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zameer Mohamed
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Ailsa Russell
- Centre for Applied Autism Research, Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Melanie Palmer
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Emily Simonoff
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Matthew J Hollocks
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
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3
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Keenan EG, Gurba AN, Mahaffey B, Kappenberg CF, Lerner MD. Leveling Up Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Autistic Individuals with Emotion Dysregulation: Clinical and Personal Insights. AUTISM IN ADULTHOOD 2024; 6:1-8. [PMID: 38435330 PMCID: PMC10902278 DOI: 10.1089/aut.2022.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Autistic people may experience high emotion and sensory sensitivities and a slow return to baseline emotional state. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was developed to address reactivity, impulsivity, and mood dysregulation in individuals with mood and personality disorders. DBT may be therapeutically beneficial to autistic individuals struggling with these or similar emotional and sensory challenges. This article is a synthesis of the first author's experiences of DBT as an autistic person and professional insights from all authors. We provide an overview of the development of DBT, its foundational components, and adaptations. Using this basis, the first author describes the benefits DBT has had, the modifications that have helped him, and how those modifications may enhance DBT for autistic people. Modifications include visuals, graphics, and a gaming format that target the client's personal interests. The essence of these alterations is to transform life skills and DBT skills into something meaningful and functional. Receptivity of the therapist to the modifications and neurodivergent problem solving may be foundational to therapeutic success. Client-initiated contributions in collaborative therapy may improve autistic participants' understanding, validation, and adherence with DBT. The authors suggest expanding work on DBT modifications for autism in the areas of daily self-monitoring, assessing for preferred visual and gaming formats, and utilizing personal interests.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ava N. Gurba
- Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | | | - Catherine Faith Kappenberg
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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4
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Orsmond GI, Krishnan SG, Munsell EGS, Cohn ES, Coster WJ. Describing Outcomes in Autistic Young Adults One Year After High School Graduation. J Autism Dev Disord 2024:10.1007/s10803-023-06152-x. [PMID: 38285097 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06152-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Research documents poor outcomes for autistic adults in the domains of employment, independent living, and social relationships. Measurement and sample limitations in prior studies may have amplified past estimates of poor outcomes. The goal of the current study was to improve upon past approaches and to create and describe a measurement approach to capture adult outcomes that reflected the context of young adulthood and the perspectives of autistic individuals, pairing objective outcome indicators with subjective satisfaction indicators. METHODS Thirty-six autistic young adults (mean age 19.8 years) and a parent completed self-report surveys. Using these data, we defined an objective and subjective (i.e., satisfaction) outcome indicator in each of three domains: productivity (employment or post-secondary education), social well-being (frequency of contact with friends), and living situation (autonomy). RESULTS Three-quarters of young adults experienced at least 5 out of 6 positive outcomes. Over 90% were engaged in school, work, or a structured transition program, and an equal percentage were satisfied with their productivity activity. Over three-quarters of adults had a good amount of contact with friends and were satisfied with their social life. Most young adults had a moderate level of autonomy in their daily lives, and all were satisfied with their living situation. CONCLUSION Tailoring outcome measurement approaches specifically for autistic young adults provided a more optimistic portrayal of outcomes than previously noted in the literature. The approach used better reflects a neurodiversity approach and may be useful for evaluating the effectiveness of transition services or interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gael I Orsmond
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Sharada G Krishnan
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | | | - Ellen S Cohn
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Wendy J Coster
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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Thomas HR, Sirsikar A, Eigsti IM. Brief Report: Convergence and Discrepancy Between Self- and Informant-Reported Depressive Symptoms in Young Autistic Adults. J Autism Dev Disord 2024:10.1007/s10803-023-06230-0. [PMID: 38231383 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06230-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Autistic individuals exhibit elevated rates of depression; however, assessment is complicated by clinical presentations and limited validation in this population. Recent work has demonstrated the utility of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) in screening for depression in ASD. The current study extends this work by examining the convergence and divergence of self- and informant-reported depression in autistic (n = 258) and non-autistic (n = 255) young adults. METHODS Participants completed the BDI-II as a self-report measure of depression; informants completed the Achenbach Adult Behavior Checklist. Analyses probed for between-group differences in rates of depression symptoms, convergence between self- and informant-reported depression, and discrepancy between self- and informant-reported depression. RESULTS Results indicated significantly higher rates of depressive symptoms in the autistic group. Convergence was significant in both groups, with significantly greater agreement in the autistic group. There was differential divergence, with the autistic group reporting significantly lower scores relative to informants, and the non-autistic group reporting significantly higher scores relative to informants. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with prior reports, results suggest that depression rates are elevated in autism. Additionally, while the BDI-II may be adequate for screening depressive symptoms in speaking autistic young adults, eliciting information from a close adult informant provides valuable diagnostic information, due to clinically critical concerns about underreporting in this population. Although controlled in analyses, between-group differences in gender, age, race, and informant identity, and a predominantly White and non-Latinx sample, limit the generalizability of these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah R Thomas
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Aditi Sirsikar
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Inge-Marie Eigsti
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
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Pascoe MI, Forbes K, de la Roche L, Derby B, Psaradellis E, Anagnostou E, Nicolson R, Georgiades S, Kelley E. Exploring the association between social skills struggles and social communication difficulties and depression in youth with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2023; 16:2160-2171. [PMID: 37615265 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by social communication difficulties and social skills abilities that are significantly differ from neurotypical populations as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests. Furthermore, many autistic youth experience co-occurring conditions, with one of the most common being depression. This depression is suggested to be, in part, the result of the relative social isolation experienced by autistic youth. Therefore, it is important to examine social functioning differences in autistic youth and their association with depression. There has been limited research investigating the association between social communication difficulties and depression, or the association between social skills struggles and depression, and no research investigating both of these in the same population. We found that social communicative symptoms of autism (as measured by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) were not associated with depression scores (as measured by the Revised Checklist for Anxiety and Depression) after controlling for age, sex, and IQ. In contrast, we did find a significant association between social skills struggles (as measured by the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-2) and depression in the same sample. Higher social skills struggles were associated with higher depression scores after controlling for age, sex, and IQ. Reasons for the potential discrepancy between these findings are discussed, and clinical implications of these findings are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Isabel Pascoe
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kaitlyn Forbes
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura de la Roche
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brianne Derby
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Evdokia Anagnostou
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Holland Bloorview Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rob Nicolson
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stelios Georgiades
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Kelley
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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Angel L, Ailey SH, Delaney KR, Mohr L. Presentation of Depressive Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorders. West J Nurs Res 2023; 45:854-861. [PMID: 37586013 DOI: 10.1177/01939459231190269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depressive disorders are frequently mis- and underdiagnosed in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). OBJECTIVE Our objective was to identify and synthesize current knowledge regarding (1) the presentation of depressive symptoms and (2) the use of self-reports in assessing depressive symptoms in individuals with ASD and comparisons between self-reported and observer-reported symptoms. A scoping review was conducted to capture the full range of literature on the topic and to identify research gaps. METHODS Articles were identified through a search of academic literature and screened for relevance to the aims of the review. RESULTS In addition to typical depression symptoms, individuals with ASD may demonstrate atypical symptoms such as changes in autistic symptoms, self-injurious behavior, and psychomotor changes. Moreover, the review revealed a bias toward observer-reports of symptoms. Self-reports frequently were not included or were ascribed less weight than observer-reports. Self-reports typically differed from reports given by parents or other caregivers, but a consistent pattern in these differences has not been established. CONCLUSIONS Further research on the use of self-reports in assessing depressive symptoms in individuals with ASD is needed. Self-reports may provide information not obtainable through observer-reports, and integrating both self- and observer-reports in psychiatric evaluations may produce more comprehensive and accurate assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Angel
- College of Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sarah H Ailey
- Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kathleen R Delaney
- Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lynn Mohr
- Women and Children College of Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA
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Pelton MK, Crawford H, Bul K, Robertson AE, Adams J, de Beurs D, Rodgers J, Baron‐Cohen S, Cassidy S. The role of anxiety and depression in suicidal thoughts for autistic and non-autistic people: A theory-driven network analysis. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2023; 53:426-442. [PMID: 36974940 PMCID: PMC10947106 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autistic adults experience more frequent suicidal thoughts and mental health difficulties than non-autistic adults, but research has yet to explain how these experiences are connected. This study explored how anxiety and depression contribute to suicidal thoughts according to the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide for autistic and non-autistic adults. METHODS Participants (autistic adults n = 463, 61% female; non-autistic n = 342, 64% female) completed online measures of anxiety, depression, thwarted belonging, and perceived burdensomeness. Network analysis explored whether: (i) being autistic is a risk marker for suicide; and (ii) pathways to suicidal thoughts are consistent for autistic and non-autistic adults. RESULTS Being autistic connected closely with feeling like an outsider, anxiety, and movement, which connected to suicidal thoughts through somatic experiences, low mood, and burdensomeness. Networks were largely consistent for autistic and non-autistic people, but connections from mood symptoms to somatic and thwarted belonging experiences were absent for autistic adults. CONCLUSION Autistic people experience more life stressors than non-autistic people leading to reduced coping, low mood, and suicidal thoughts. Promoting belonging, reducing anxiety, and understanding the role of movement could inform suicide prevention for autistic people. Research should accurately capture autistic lived experience when modeling suicide to ensure suicide prevention meets autistic needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirabel K. Pelton
- Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Centre for Intelligent HealthcareCoventry UniversityCoventryUK
| | - Hayley Crawford
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Unit, Warwick Medical SchoolUniversity of WarwickCoventryUK
| | - Kim Bul
- Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Centre for Intelligent HealthcareCoventry UniversityCoventryUK
| | - Ashley E. Robertson
- School of Psychology & NeuroscienceUniversity of Glasgow, University AvenueGlasgowUK
| | - Jon Adams
- Autistic Advocate and ResearcherPortsmouthUK
| | | | - Jacqui Rodgers
- Population Health Sciences InstituteSir James Spence Institute, Newcastle University, Royal Victoria InfirmaryNewcastleUK
| | - Simon Baron‐Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of PsychiatryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Sarah Cassidy
- School of PsychologyUniversity of Nottingham, University ParkNottinghamUK
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Sejima K, Uozumi R, Murai T, Funabiki Y. Ambivalent effects of highly estimated personal strengths on adaptive functioning and internalizing symptoms in non-clinical autistic females. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-023-04285-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
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10
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Stewart TM, Martin K, Fazi M, Oldridge J, Piper A, Rhodes SM. A systematic review of the rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents without intellectual disability. Psychol Psychother 2022; 95:313-344. [PMID: 34605156 DOI: 10.1111/papt.12366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Increasing evidence suggests that major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study is a systematic review of rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents, without intellectual disability. DESIGN Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a total of 14,557 studies were identified through five databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cinahl, ERIC, PsycINFO, and Web of Science). METHODS Articles were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria and 10% double coded at each stage. Nineteen studies met criteria and were retained in the review. RESULT The reported rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents varied from 0% to 83.3%. We discuss these findings in relation to method of report (self/informant, interview/questionnaire), recruitment status (clinical/community recruited), and age (pre-pubertal/adolescent). CONCLUSION Rates of depression vary considerably across studies and do not show a particular pattern in relation to methodology, or age. Our research joins a crucial call to action from the research community for future research to improve the identification of depression in autism, which in turn will aid our understanding of the potentially different characterization and manifestation of depression in autism, to ultimately improve assessment and treatment of depression in autistic children and adolescents. PRACTITIONER POINTS Rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents vary and do not show a particular pattern in relation to methodology or age. Our research joins the call to action from the research community for future research to improve the identification of depression in autistic children and adolescents, which in turn will aid understanding of depression in autism, and ultimately improve assessment and treatment of depression in autistic children and young people. The development of new measures of depression, specifically designed with, and for, children and adolescents with autism, is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy M Stewart
- Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | | | | | - Jessica Oldridge
- Child Life and Health, Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Allan Piper
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sinead M Rhodes
- Child Life and Health, Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
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Brede J, Cage E, Trott J, Palmer L, Smith A, Serpell L, Mandy W, Russell A. “We Have to Try to Find a Way, a Clinical Bridge” - autistic adults' experience of accessing and receiving support for mental health difficulties: A systematic review and thematic meta-synthesis. Clin Psychol Rev 2022; 93:102131. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Brolsma SCA, Vrijsen JN, Vassena E, Rostami Kandroodi M, Bergman MA, van Eijndhoven PF, Collard RM, den Ouden HEM, Schene AH, Cools R. Challenging the negative learning bias hypothesis of depression: reversal learning in a naturalistic psychiatric sample. Psychol Med 2022; 52:303-313. [PMID: 32538342 PMCID: PMC8842187 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291720001956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Classic theories posit that depression is driven by a negative learning bias. Most studies supporting this proposition used small and selected samples, excluding patients with comorbidities. However, comorbidity between psychiatric disorders occurs in up to 70% of the population. Therefore, the generalizability of the negative bias hypothesis to a naturalistic psychiatric sample as well as the specificity of the bias to depression, remain unclear. In the present study, we tested the negative learning bias hypothesis in a large naturalistic sample of psychiatric patients, including depression, anxiety, addiction, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and/or autism. First, we assessed whether the negative bias hypothesis of depression generalized to a heterogeneous (and hence more naturalistic) depression sample compared with controls. Second, we assessed whether negative bias extends to other psychiatric disorders. Third, we adopted a dimensional approach, by using symptom severity as a way to assess associations across the sample. METHODS We administered a probabilistic reversal learning task to 217 patients and 81 healthy controls. According to the negative bias hypothesis, participants with depression should exhibit enhanced learning and flexibility based on punishment v. reward. We combined analyses of traditional measures with more sensitive computational modeling. RESULTS In contrast to previous findings, this sample of depressed patients with psychiatric comorbidities did not show a negative learning bias. CONCLUSIONS These results speak against the generalizability of the negative learning bias hypothesis to depressed patients with comorbidities. This study highlights the importance of investigating unselected samples of psychiatric patients, which represent the vast majority of the psychiatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie C. A. Brolsma
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Janna N. Vrijsen
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Depression Expertise Centre, Pro Persona Mental Health Care, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Eliana Vassena
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Mojtaba Rostami Kandroodi
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - M. Annemiek Bergman
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Philip F. van Eijndhoven
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Rose M. Collard
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Hanneke E. M. den Ouden
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Aart H. Schene
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Roshan Cools
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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13
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Maietta JE, Kuwabara HC, Cross CL, Flood SM, Kinsora TF, Ross SR, Allen DN. Influence of Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders on Cognitive and Symptom Profiles: Considerations for Baseline Sport Concussion Assessment. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2021; 36:1438–1449. [PMID: 33611342 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acab006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The presence of neurodevelopmental disorders (ND) such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disorders (LD) have demonstrated effects on Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) performance. No current research has directly examined whether autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has similar effects. The current study compared ImPACT cognitive and symptom profiles in athletes with self-reported ASD to other NDs and healthy controls using case-control matching. METHOD The current study compared ImPACT baselines of high school athletes with ASD to athletes with other NDs (ADHD, LD, and co-occurring ADHD/LD) and healthy controls on cognitive composites and symptom reporting. Participants included 435 athletes (87 controls, 87 with ASD, 87 with ADHD, 87 with LD, and 87 with ADHD/LD) selected from a larger naturalistic sample. Athletes were matched to the ASD group based on age, sex, and sport using randomized case-matched selection from the larger database. RESULTS Results revealed that athletes with ASD performed more poorly than healthy controls on the Visual Motor Speed composite. No differences were found for Post-concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) domain scores. Differences in cognitive and symptom profiles among the athletes with other NDs were also found. CONCLUSIONS Results elucidate patterns of baseline performance for athletes with ASD, demonstrating that there may not be significant differences between ASD and healthy controls on four of the five ImPACT composites, and no symptom reporting differences. Cognitive and symptom differences found for other NDs should be considered when interpreting baseline performance and for making return-to-play decisions in the absence of baseline assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia E Maietta
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Hana C Kuwabara
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Chad L Cross
- UNLV School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Sarah M Flood
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | | | - Staci R Ross
- Center for Applied Neuroscience, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Daniel N Allen
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
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14
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Kim SY, Lecavalier L. Evaluating the Use of Self-reported Measures in Autistic Individuals in the Context of Psychiatric Assessment: A Systematic Review. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:4355-4374. [PMID: 34643862 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05323-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The current review examined the use of self-report measures in autistic individuals in the context of psychiatric assessments. It focused on inter-rater agreement, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and criterion validity with clinical diagnoses. It also gathered information on constructs measured, the nature of the samples, and the quality of the studies. Thirty-six out of 10,557 studies met inclusion criteria. We found that the majority of studies (1) targeted young people with average or above average cognitive abilities, (2) measured anxiety symptoms, and (3) evaluated parent-child agreement. More studies are needed on individuals with lower cognitive abilities, adults, and other constructs. Studies assessing criterion validity and test-retest reliability are also needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Youn Kim
- Nisonger Center, The Ohio State University, 1581 Dodd Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Luc Lecavalier
- Nisonger Center, The Ohio State University, 1581 Dodd Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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15
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Maitland CA, Rhodes S, O'Hare A, Stewart ME. Social identities and mental well-being in autistic adults. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 25:1771-1783. [PMID: 34011188 PMCID: PMC8323333 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211004328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Social identities relate to psychological perceptions of group memberships and
form part of the self-concept. Socially identifying with groups has previously
been found to associate with better mental well-being outcomes. This study first
examined the factor structure and the reliability of measuring social
identification in autistic adults. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that a
factor structure was replicated in this sample for social identification with
other autistic people, but not the family. Second, the study assessed the level
to which autistic adults socially identified with different groups, the total
number of social identities and whether these were associated with their mental
well-being. Autistic adults reported feelings of social identification with many
kinds of groups, some with multiple groups, whereas others did not socially
identify with any group. Stronger feelings of social identification towards
other autistic people and towards one’s family, and with more groups overall,
were associated with less severe self-reported depression symptoms and more
facets of positive mental health. These findings indicate the importance of
facilitating autistic people’s engagement with social groups.
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16
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Zheng S, Adams R, Taylor JL, Pezzimenti F, Bishop SL. Depression in independent young adults on the autism spectrum: Demographic characteristics, service use, and barriers. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 25:1960-1972. [DOI: 10.1177/13623613211008276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Depression is a common problem for adults on the autism spectrum, but little is known about depression-related service receipt in this group. To understand depression diagnostic and treatment status better, we collected information on current depressive symptoms, depression diagnosis, and treatment status of 315 young adults with a childhood diagnosis of autism from the Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge registry. About two-thirds (65.4%) of the adults had been diagnosed with depression, and 46.7% currently met clinical cut-offs for depression on depressive symptoms measures. Among the currently depressed, the majority (83.0%) had a formal depression diagnosis. Despite being no more likely than males to be currently depressed, females (biological sex) were more likely to have received a depression diagnosis. As for depression treatment, 58.5% of currently depressed adults were currently being treated, and 68% had previously received treatment. Medication was the most common form of treatment, followed by individual therapy. Likelihood of receiving depression treatment was higher among those with a formal depression diagnosis and with higher levels of education. Adults reported several barriers to accessing treatment for depression, including financial and insurance issues, accessibility to appropriate care, and professionals’ lack of understanding about depression in autism. Lay abstract Depression is common among adults on the autism spectrum, but little is known about the extent to which these adults living in the community access diagnostic and treatment services for depression. To address this gap, we surveyed 315 adults on the autism spectrum on depression symptoms, diagnosis, and services. About half of the sample had scores on standard depression measures that suggested they were currently depressed ( n = 147, 46.7%). Among the currently depressed, most of them had received a depression diagnosis from a professional. Depressed females were about 3.5 times more likely than depressed males to have a depression diagnosis. More than half of the currently depressed adults on the autism spectrum reported receiving depression treatment at the time of the study, while about two-thirds had previously received treatment. Those with a depression diagnosis were more likely to have received treatment, and those who had some education beyond high school were more likely to be currently receiving treatment. Financial and insurance issues were the most common barriers that adults reported in accessing treatment for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ryan Adams
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, USA
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17
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Fu W, Fan J. Intervention effect of exercise rehabilitation therapy on patients with type 2 diabetic osteoporosis. Am J Transl Res 2021; 13:3400-3408. [PMID: 34017515 PMCID: PMC8129311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the intervention effect of exercise rehabilitation therapy on patients with type 2 diabetic osteoporosis. METHODS From August 2017 to November 2019, 117 patients with type 2 diabetic osteoporosis who received treatment in Nanhua Hospital affiliated to Nanhua University were selected. Among them, 54 cases were given routine treatment in the control group (CG), and 63 cases were given exercise rehabilitation therapy on the basis of routine treatment in the study group (SG). The blood glucose level, bone mineral density, quality of life, VAS score, therapeutic effect and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. RESULTS After treatment, the blood glucose level and VAS score in the SG were obviously lower than those in the CG, while the bone mineral density, quality of life and clinical total effective rate were obviously higher than those in the CG, and the adverse reactions were lower than those in the CG. CONCLUSION Exercise rehabilitation therapy can significantly improve the symptoms and the quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetic osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wensheng Fu
- Chongqing Business Vocational CollegeChongqing 400331, China
| | - Jingang Fan
- Department of Physical Education, Sichuan International Studies UniversityChongqing 400331, China
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18
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Dow D, Morgan L, Hooker JL, Michaels MS, Joiner TE, Woods J, Wetherby AM. Anxiety, Depression, and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide in a Community Sample of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Arch Suicide Res 2021; 25:297-314. [PMID: 31656121 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2019.1678537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The present study examines occurrence of depression, anxiety, and suicidality in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), relationships between social difficulties and mental health, and application of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide in this population. Ninety-eight adults with ASD completed an online survey. Data were analyzed using bivariate correlations, independent samples t-tests, and simple mediational analyses. A substantial proportion reported a lifetime history of anxiety (63%), depression (55%), and suicide attempts (19%), as well as recent suicidal ideation (12%). Social difficulty was associated with higher psychiatric concerns. Thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness were associated with social dissatisfaction, current suicidal ideation, and history of depression. Results suggest the need for widespread screening and intervention services for co-occurring psychiatric conditions in this population.
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19
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Schiltz HK, Magnus BE. Differential Item Functioning Based on Autism Features, IQ, and Age on the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) Among Youth on the Autism Spectrum. Autism Res 2021; 14:1220-1236. [PMID: 33543824 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety commonly occurs among youth on the autism spectrum, yet measurement of anxiety in this population is complicated by a number of factors, including potentially overlapping symptomatology, the child's intellectual functioning, and changes in anxiety across development. Moreover, few studies have examined the psychometric properties of anxiety measures in this population, and no study to date has tested whether there are systematic differences in the measurement of anxiety, or differential item functioning (DIF), across the high degree of heterogeneity and the developmental course of autism. To test this possibility, data were combined across multiple studies using the National Database for Autism Research, an NIH-funded data repository. Parent-report on the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) were used as measures of anxiety and autism features, respectively. A confirmatory factor analysis indicated good fit of the literature standard five-factor structure. Moderated nonlinear factor analysis (MNLFA) revealed multiple items with intercept and loading DIF based on level of autism features, IQ, and age, especially for items related to social behavior. Therefore, although the measure's factor structure is consistent with that found in the general population, the SCARED may not capture differences in anxiety equivalently for all children on the spectrum and across their development. Clinicians and researchers need to be especially vigilant in measuring anxiety symptoms in children with autism by removing items flagged for DIF from the SCARED and/or by using multiple measures and informants. LAY ABSTRACT: Autistic youth often experience clinical levels of anxiety. Many tools used to measure anxiety were developed for the general population, but not for use with autistic youth. This study found that the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) measures the same five dimensions of anxiety as in the general population. Parents, however, may respond differently to questions on the SCARED based on their child's autism features, intellectual functioning, and age, which impacts our ability to accurately measure anxiety among autistic youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary K Schiltz
- Department of Psychology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Brooke E Magnus
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
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20
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Bergman MA, Vrijsen JN, Rinck M, van Oostrom I, Kan CC, Collard RM, van Eijndhoven P, Vissers CTWM, Schene AH. Is a Negative Attentional Bias in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder Explained by Comorbid Depression? An Eye-Tracking Study. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 51:4213-4226. [PMID: 33491119 PMCID: PMC8510933 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-04880-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Heightened attention towards negative information is characteristic of depression. Evidence is emerging for a negative attentional bias in Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), perhaps driven by the high comorbidity between ASD and depression. We investigated whether ASD is characterised by a negative attentional bias and whether this can be explained by comorbid (sub) clinical depression. Participants (n = 116) with current (CD) or remitted depression (RD) and/or ASD, and 64 controls viewed positively and negatively valenced (non-)social pictures. Groups were compared on three components of visual attention using linear mixed models. Both CD individuals with and without ASD, but not remitted depressed and never-depressed ASD individuals showed a negative bias, suggesting that negative attentional bias might be a depressive state-specific marker for depression in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Annemiek Bergman
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Centre, Radboudumc, 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Janna N Vrijsen
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Centre, Radboudumc, 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Depression Expertise Center, Pro Persona Mental Health Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mike Rinck
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Behavioural Science Institute, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Cornelis C Kan
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Centre, Radboudumc, 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rose M Collard
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Centre, Radboudumc, 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Philip van Eijndhoven
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Centre, Radboudumc, 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Constance Th W M Vissers
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Behavioural Science Institute, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Royal Dutch Kentalis, Kentalis Academy, Sint-Michielsgestel, The Netherlands
| | - Aart H Schene
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Centre, Radboudumc, 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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21
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Cassidy SA, Gould K, Townsend E, Pelton M, Robertson AE, Rodgers J. Is Camouflaging Autistic Traits Associated with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours? Expanding the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide in an Undergraduate Student Sample. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 50:3638-3648. [PMID: 31820344 PMCID: PMC7502035 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04323-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The current study explored whether people who camouflage autistic traits are more likely to experience thwarted belongingness and suicidality, as predicted by the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS). 160 undergraduate students (86.9% female, 18–23 years) completed a cross-sectional online survey from 8th February to 30th May 2019 including self-report measures of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, autistic traits, depression, anxiety, camouflaging autistic traits, and lifetime suicidality. Results suggest that camouflaging autistic traits is associated with increased risk of experiencing thwarted belongingness and lifetime suicidality. It is important for suicide theories such as the IPTS to include variables relevant to the broader autism phenotype, to increase applicability of models to both autistic and non-autistic people.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Cassidy
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. .,Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
| | - K Gould
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - E Townsend
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - M Pelton
- School of Psychological, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK.,Centre for Innovative Research Across the Lifespan, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | - A E Robertson
- School of Psychological, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK.,Centre for Innovative Research Across the Lifespan, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | - J Rodgers
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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22
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Schiltz HK, McVey AJ, Dolan Wozniak B, Haendel AD, Stanley R, Arias A, Gordon N, Van Hecke AV. The role of loneliness as a mediator between autism features and mental health among autistic young adults. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2020; 25:545-555. [PMID: 33126822 DOI: 10.1177/1362361320967789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Autistic adults commonly experience mental health concerns including social anxiety and depression, which can have negative effects on their quality of life. It is not completely clear, however, why rates of mental health concerns are so high. Some evidence suggests that social connectedness might play a key role. The goal of this study was to explore links between loneliness, mental health concerns, autism features, and social contact among autistic adults and test whether the links between mental health with autism features and social contact can be explained by loneliness. Researchers in this study collected data using questionnaires completed by 69 autistic young adults. Autistic adults who reported more autism features also reported more social and family loneliness, higher levels of social anxiety and depression, and fewer initiated social contacts. In addition, adults with more social contact initiations were likely to report lower levels of social and family loneliness and social anxiety but not depression. Results showed that the link from social engagement and autism features to social anxiety and depression symptoms could be mostly explained by loneliness. The results of this study expand previous findings by illustrating one factor (loneliness) that might be responsible for the high rates of mental health concerns among adults on the autism spectrum. These findings highlight the importance of studying factors related to mental health concerns among autistic adults and ways to best support social connectedness for the mental well-being of autistic young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alana J McVey
- Marquette University, USA.,University of California, Los Angeles, USA
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23
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Corbett BA, Vandekar S, Muscatello RA, Tanguturi Y. Pubertal Timing During Early Adolescence: Advanced Pubertal Onset in Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res 2020; 13:2202-2215. [PMID: 33043629 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social communication and poor adaptation to change; thus, the onset of puberty may be a pivotal transition. This cross-sectional study measured pubertal timing to examine hypothesized differences for sex (female vs. male) and group (ASD vs. typical development [TD]). Participants included 239 children (137 ASD, 102 TD) between 10 and 13 years. The ASD group included 35 females and 102 males; the TDs included 44 females and 58 males. Pubertal onset measured by genital or pubic stage was investigated with linear regression using main effects of sex and age-by-sex interactions in TD and ASD groups and main effects of diagnosis and diagnosis-by-age interactions in males and females, controlling for body mass index, socioeconomic status, and race. In TD, examination of main effects for genital (penis/breast) stage showed no difference for male and female children (t = 1.33, P = 0.187, rdf = 92); however, there were significant differences in ASD (t = 2.70, P = 0.008, rdf = 121). For diagnosis modeled separately by sex, there was significantly earlier pubertal development in females with ASD (t = 1.97, P = 0.053, rdf = 70, but not males (t = 1.329, P = 0.186, rdf = 143). In addition, analysis of menses revealed females with ASD had significantly earlier onset than TD (t = -2.56, P = 0.018, rdf = 21). Examination of pubic stage revealed expected sex differences for TD (t = 2,674, P = 0.009, rdf = 91) and ASD (t = 3.482, P = 0.001, rdf = 121). Females with ASD evidence advanced pubertal onset relative to ASD males and TD females. Findings underscore the need for enhanced understanding of pubertal development in ASD, as differences may have significant psychological, social, physiological, and developmental consequences. LAY SUMMARY: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulty with social communication and respond poorly to change, which may include the onset and course of puberty. The study measured the timing of puberty in 239 children (137 ASD and 102 typical development [TD]) between 10 and 13 years based on pubertal stage of genital (breast/penis) and pubic hair development. Females with ASD evidence advanced pubertal onset relative to ASD males and TD females. Findings underscore the need for an enhanced understanding of pubertal development in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blythe A Corbett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Simon Vandekar
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Yasas Tanguturi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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24
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McCauley JB, Elias R, Lord C. Trajectories of co-occurring psychopathology symptoms in autism from late childhood to adulthood. Dev Psychopathol 2020; 32:1287-1302. [PMID: 32677592 PMCID: PMC7655668 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579420000826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Given high rates of co-occurring conditions in youth and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is critical to examine the developmental trajectories of these symptoms of psychopathology. Using data from a cohort of participants (n = 194), most of whom were first assessed for ASD in very early childhood, we investigated the trajectories of co-occurring depressive, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms from late childhood to adulthood. Additionally, childhood predictors and adult outcomes associated with these symptom trajectories were examined. Using group-based trajectory modeling, we found two distinct classes of individuals exhibiting each of these co-occurring symptom patterns: one class exhibited fairly low symptoms across time, and one class with elevated symptoms with varied fluctuation across time (ADHD symptoms starting high but decreasing, anxiety symptoms high and stable, and depressive symptoms fluctuating but peaking at clinically significant levels in young adulthood). All high trajectory classes were associated with age 9 adaptive skills; verbal IQ predicted higher anxiety and depressive symptom classes. After accounting for verbal IQ, all high symptom trajectory classes were negative predictors of objective adult outcomes. These findings call for wide-ranging considerations of the needs of individuals across ability levels, autism symptoms, and behavioral and emotional challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- James B McCauley
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca Elias
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Catherine Lord
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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25
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Rodriguez G, Drastal K, Hartley SL. Cross-lagged model of bullying victimization and mental health problems in children with autism in middle to older childhood. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2020; 25:90-101. [PMID: 32921150 DOI: 10.1177/1362361320947513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Youth with autism spectrum disorders are disproportionately at risk for bullying victimization compared to typically developing children and adolescents. While internalizing and externalizing mental health problems have been linked to victimization experiences, few studies have examined the longitudinal effects bullying victimization experiences may have on youth mental health outcomes. The present study investigated longitudinal associations between bullying victimization and mental health problems in a sample of children with autism in middle childhood to early adolescence (aged 5 to 12 years). Findings from our study suggest that youth with autism who experienced bullying victimization (versus no victimization) were older in age, had more severe autism symptoms, and higher levels of internalizing and externalizing mental health problems at study onset. Though externalizing mental health problems at study onset (Time 1) did not relate to change in the likelihood of being bullied one year later (Time 2), experiences of bullying victimization did relate to an increase in parent reports of internalizing mental health problems. This study expanded on previous cross-sectional studies by including two waves of data in a relatively large sample of youth with autism and highlights important information that may be helpful in adapting approaches to intervention at the individual level. Moreover, our findings support the need for bullying programs that may need to focus particular attention to subgroups of youth with autism who may be most at-risk for bullying victimization such as those with more autism symptoms and those with past experiences of victimization (given the chronic nature of bullying).
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26
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Schwartzman JM, Corbett BA. Higher depressive symptoms in early adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder by self- and parent-report compared to typically-developing peers. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2020; 77:101613. [PMID: 32802155 PMCID: PMC7423017 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2020.101613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is more prevalent among male early adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) than their typically- developing (TD) peers, but findings are limited to two male-only studies. Therefore, a broader understanding of depressive symptoms among both male and female early adolescents with ASD in larger samples is needed. Self- and parent-ratings are frequently used, yet rater differences may emerge and provide unique insights. METHOD Ratings of adolescent depressive symptoms were examined among 230 early adolescents (10:0-13:5 years) with and without ASD using self- (Children's Depression Inventory, Second Edition; CDI-2) and parent- report (Child Behavior Checklist; CBCL) measures. The influence of diagnostic group (ASD vs. TD) and rater (early adolescent vs. parent) on ratings were examined with Full Scale IQ and sex as covariates. Additionally, the reliability and strength of agreement between raters were examined. RESULTS Higher depressive symptoms were reported by both raters in the ASD group (Borderline range) compared to the TD group (Average range). The interaction of diagnostic group and rater was nonsignificant, but significant main effects emerged. Sex was a significant covariate, but Full Scale IQ was not. The reliability and strength of agreement between raters in the ASD group only were not significant. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that depressive symptoms may be higher in both male and female early adolescents with ASD across self- and parent- reports. However, measurement of depression in ASD may be complicated by nonsignificant reliability and strength of agreement between raters. Results have implications for screening and intervention for early adolescents with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M. Schwartzman
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23 Avenue South, Nashville, TN, United States 37212
| | - Blythe A. Corbett
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23 Avenue South, Nashville, TN, United States 37212
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, 110 Magnolia Circle, Nashville, TN, United States 37203
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27
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Unruh KE, Bodfish JW, Gotham KO. Adults with Autism and Adults with Depression Show Similar Attentional Biases to Social-Affective Images. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 50:2336-2347. [PMID: 29882107 PMCID: PMC6286233 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3627-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with ASD have increased rates of depression compared to the general population. Repetitive cognition is a core feature of ASD; in typically developing adults, repetitive cognition has been associated with attentional biases to negative emotional material and increased prospective depression risk. We compared adults with ASD to typically developing adults with depression and never-depressed controls, using a paired preference paradigm sensitive to affective biases in the context of repetitive cognition. Both clinical cohorts oriented faster to negative social-emotional material and spent less time overall on positive material, compared to healthy controls. Exploratory analyses within ASD revealed specific influences of repetitive behavior on patterns of affective bias. Findings help pinpoint susceptibilities in ASD that may confer increased risk for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Unruh
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies and Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - James W Bodfish
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Hearing & Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Katherine O Gotham
- Department of Hearing & Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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Understanding Suicide Risk in Autistic Adults: Comparing the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide in Autistic and Non-autistic Samples. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 50:3620-3637. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04393-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Day TC, McNaughton KA, Naples AJ, McPartland JC. Self-reported social impairments predict depressive disorder in adults with autism spectrum disorder. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2020; 24:297-306. [PMID: 31238701 PMCID: PMC6930361 DOI: 10.1177/1362361319857375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In adults with autism spectrum disorder, co-occurring psychiatric conditions are prevalent, and depression is one of the most common co-occurring disorders. This study examined the relationship between depression and cognitive ability, autism symptom severity, and self-reported social impairments in autism spectrum disorder. A total of 33 adults with autism spectrum disorder and 28 adults with typical development completed a standardized psychiatric interview, cognitive test, measure of clinician-rated autism symptom severity, and self-report of social impairments. Nine participants with autism spectrum disorder (27%) met the criteria for a depressive disorder (autism spectrum disorder + depressive disorder). Relatively more females with autism spectrum disorder had a co-occurring depressive disorder. The typical development group had a higher intelligence quotient than the autism spectrum disorder group, but the autism spectrum disorder + depressive disorder group did not differ from the typical development or autism spectrum disorder group. While the autism spectrum disorder + depressive disorder group had lower clinician-rated autism symptom severity than the autism spectrum disorder group, the autism spectrum disorder + depressive disorder group reported more social impairments than the autism spectrum disorder group. Self-reported social impairments predicted depression in adults with autism spectrum disorder when accounting for symptom severity and cognitive ability. These findings suggest that more self-perceived social impairments are related to depressive disorders in autism spectrum disorder, and may help clinicians identify individuals who are vulnerable in developing a co-occurring depressive disorder. Future directions include follow-up studies with larger cohorts and longitudinal designs to support inferences regarding directionality of these relationships.
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Shaltout E, Al-Dewik N, Samara M, Morsi H, Khattab A. Psychological Comorbidities in Autism Spectrum Disorder. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 24:163-191. [PMID: 32006360 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-30402-7_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairment in behavior, communication, and social interaction. Thus, accurate identification, regular behavioral and other nonmedical interventions would improve the diagnosis, management, and treatment of this condition.In this chapter, we investigate the importance of diagnosing and identifying comorbid psychiatric disorders that occur with ASD as these conditions can often complicate treatment, and failure to recognize them can result in deficits that can persist into adolescence and adulthood. In addition, we explore the impact of comprehensive psychological intervention in ASD patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders with the ultimate goal of improving overall quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Shaltout
- Medical Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar.,Department of Psychology, Kingston University London, Kingston upon Thames, UK
| | - Nader Al-Dewik
- Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Pediatrics Department, Hamad General Hospital (HGH), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar.,College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Muthanna Samara
- Department of Psychology, Kingston University London, Kingston upon Thames, UK.
| | - Hisham Morsi
- Department of Psychology, Kingston University London, Kingston upon Thames, UK.,Quality of Life Unit, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, (NCCCR), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar
| | - Azhar Khattab
- Qatar Rehabilitation Institute, Pediatric Rehabilitation, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar
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Schumacher A, Haegele M, Spyth J, Moser A. Electrical high frequency stimulation of the nucleus accumbens shell does not modulate depressive-like behavior in rats. Behav Brain Res 2020; 378:112277. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Russell A, Gaunt D, Cooper K, Horwood J, Barton S, Ensum I, Ingham B, Parr J, Metcalfe C, Rai D, Kessler D, Wiles N. Guided self-help for depression in autistic adults: the ADEPT feasibility RCT. Health Technol Assess 2019; 23:1-94. [PMID: 31856942 PMCID: PMC6943380 DOI: 10.3310/hta23680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Co-occurring depression frequently occurs in autism. Evidence-based psychological interventions have been successfully adapted to treat co-occurring anxiety, but there is little evidence about the usefulness of adapted cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression. To the authors' knowledge, to date there have been no randomised trials investigating the usefulness of low-intensity cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression in autism. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the study were to (1) develop a low-intensity psychological intervention for depression adapted for autism, (2) assess the feasibility and patient and therapist acceptability of the intervention, (3) estimate the rates of recruitment and retention for a full-scale randomised controlled trial and (4) identify an appropriate measure of depression to be used in a full-scale randomised controlled trial. DESIGN The study comprised a randomised controlled trial (n = 70) with a nested qualitative evaluation (n = 21). Seventy eligible and consenting participants were randomly allocated to guided self-help or to treatment as usual. SETTING Adult autism services in two NHS regions. PARTICIPANTS Adults with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder with depression, that is, a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items score of ≥ 10. People who had attended more than six sessions of cognitive-behavioural therapy in the previous 6 months were excluded. INTERVENTIONS The low-intensity intervention (guided self-help) comprised materials for nine individual sessions, based on behavioural activation adapted for autism, facilitated by therapist guides (coaches) who were graduate-level psychologists who attended training and regular supervision. Treatment as usual was standard NHS care for depression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Outcomes were measured 10, 16 and 24 weeks post randomisation using self-report and interview measures of depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, social function and quality of life, and a health-care and service use questionnaire. As this was a feasibility study also designed to identify the most appropriate measure of depression, it was not possible to specify the primary outcome measure or outcome point a priori. RESULTS The aims of the study were met in full. The guided self-help intervention was feasible and well received by participants and coaches. The majority of allocated participants attended the intervention in full. The most practical outcome point was determined to be 16 weeks. There were differential rates of attrition across the treatment groups: 86% of the guided self-help group remained in the study at 24 weeks, compared with 54% of treatment as usual group. The qualitative study suggested that guided self-help had enhanced credibility with participants at the point of randomisation. Inter-rater reliability of the interview measure of depression was less than adequate, limiting the conclusions that can be drawn from the prespecified sensitivity to change analyses. CONCLUSIONS The intervention was feasible and well received. Although this feasibility study was not a fully powered trial, it provided some evidence that the guided self-help intervention was effective in reducing depressive symptoms. A full-scale clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness trial of the intervention is warranted. FUTURE WORK Improvements to the intervention materials as a result of qualitative interviews. Stakeholder consultation to consider future trial design, consider strategies to improve retention in a treatment as usual arm and select a self-report measure of depression to serve as the primary outcome measure. TRIAL REGISTRATION Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN54650760. FUNDING This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 23, No. 68. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information. This study was also supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailsa Russell
- Centre for Applied Autism Research, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Daisy Gaunt
- Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Kate Cooper
- Centre for Applied Autism Research, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Jeremy Horwood
- Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Stephen Barton
- Newcastle Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies Centre, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Ian Ensum
- BASS Adult Autism Service, Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Barry Ingham
- Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jeremy Parr
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Chris Metcalfe
- Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Dheeraj Rai
- School of Social and Community Medicine, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - David Kessler
- School of Social and Community Medicine, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Nicola Wiles
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Mohajer B, Masoudi M, Ashrafi A, Mohammadi E, Bayani Ershadi AS, Aarabi MH, Uban KA. Structural white matter alterations in male adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorder and concurrent depressive symptoms; a diffusion tensor imaging study. J Affect Disord 2019; 259:40-46. [PMID: 31437700 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a prevalent developmental condition, is associated with comorbid mood disorders, most importantly depression. Here, we explored the underlying association between brain white matter microstructural integrity, assessed by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and depressive symptoms, in male adults with high-functioning ASD. METHOD To assess our main purpose, Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange II dataset was used to acquire brain diffusion imaging from 26 adult male patients with ASD ranging from 18 to 62 years of age, and 26 age and gender-matched typically developed control subjects. Participants were evaluated for depressive symptoms manifestation by the Beck Depression Index (BDI). DWI images were preprocessed and analyzed for DTI scalers in the "ExploreDTI" toolbox. Adjusted linear regression models were used. Association between normalized BDI score and its interaction with diagnosis, as predictors, and measures of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) of regions of interest according to Mori atlas was assessed. RESULT Significant lower microstructural integrity of white matter was found in association with higher BDI scores in ASD group, mainly in regions of anterior limb of internal capsule (ALIC) and corona radiata. Also, a statistically significant positive interaction between BDI and ASD was seen in FA of left ALIC. DISCUSSION Considering similar regional brain white matter involvement with the imaging studies of depression in the typically developed population, we propose that these alterations of white matter tracts in depressive symptoms of adult ASD subjects might be, at least, similar to depression in typically developed population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahram Mohajer
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Masoudi
- Faculty of medicine, Tehran university of medical science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Agaah Ashrafi
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Esmaeil Mohammadi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Sasan Bayani Ershadi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | | | - Kristina A Uban
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, Irvine, USA
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Russell A, Gaunt DM, Cooper K, Barton S, Horwood J, Kessler D, Metcalfe C, Ensum I, Ingham B, Parr JR, Rai D, Wiles N. The feasibility of low-intensity psychological therapy for depression co-occurring with autism in adults: The Autism Depression Trial (ADEPT) - a pilot randomised controlled trial. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2019; 24:1360-1372. [PMID: 31782656 PMCID: PMC8645299 DOI: 10.1177/1362361319889272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Low-intensity cognitive behaviour therapy including behavioural activation is an evidence-based treatment for depression, a condition frequently co-occurring with autism. The feasibility of adapting low-intensity cognitive behaviour therapy for depression to meet the needs of autistic adults via a randomised controlled trial was investigated. The adapted intervention (guided self-help) comprised materials for nine individual sessions with a low-intensity psychological therapist. Autistic adults (n = 70) with depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ⩾10) recruited from National Health Service adult autism services and research cohorts were randomly allocated to guided self-help or treatment as usual. Outcomes at 10-, 16- and 24-weeks post-randomisation were blind to treatment group. Rates of retention in the study differed by treatment group with more participants attending follow-up in the guided self-help group than treatment as usual. The adapted intervention was well-received, 86% (n = 30/35) of participants attended the pre-defined 'dose' of five sessions of treatment and 71% (25/35) attended all treatment sessions. The findings of this pilot randomised controlled trial indicate that low-intensity cognitive behaviour therapy informed by behavioural activation can be successfully adapted to meet the needs of autistic people. Evaluation of the effectiveness of this intervention in a full scale randomised controlled trial is now warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ian Ensum
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, UK
| | - Barry Ingham
- Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Jeremy R Parr
- Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, UK.,Newcastle University, UK
| | - Dheeraj Rai
- University of Bristol, UK.,Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, UK
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Underwood JFG, Kendall KM, Berrett J, Lewis C, Anney R, van den Bree MBM, Hall J. Autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in adults: phenotype and genotype findings from a clinically derived cohort. Br J Psychiatry 2019; 215:647-653. [PMID: 30806336 PMCID: PMC6949119 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2019.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The past decade has seen the development of services for adults presenting with symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the UK. Compared with children, little is known about the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of these patients. AIMS This e-cohort study aimed to examine the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of a clinically presenting sample of adults diagnosed with ASD by specialist services. METHOD Individuals diagnosed with ASD as adults were recruited by the National Centre for Mental Health and completed self-report questionnaires, interviews and provided DNA; 105 eligible individuals were matched to 76 healthy controls. We investigated demographics, social history and comorbid psychiatric and physical disorders. Samples were genotyped, copy number variants (CNVs) were called and polygenic risk scores were calculated. RESULTS Of individuals with ASD, 89.5% had at least one comorbid psychiatric diagnosis, with depression (62.9%) and anxiety (55.2%) being the most common. The ASD group experienced more neurological comorbidities than controls, particularly migraine headache. They were less likely to have married or be in work, and had more alcohol-related problems. There was a significantly higher load of autism common genetic variants in the adult ASD group compared with controls, but there was no difference in the rate of rare CNVs. CONCLUSIONS This study provides important information about psychiatric comorbidity in adult ASD, which may inform clinical practice and patient counselling. It also suggests that the polygenic load of common ASD-associated variants may be important in conferring risk within the non-intellectually disabled population of adults with ASD. DECLARATION OF INTEREST None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack F. G. Underwood
- Clinical Research Fellow, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Kimberley M. Kendall
- Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Fellow, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Jennifer Berrett
- Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Catrin Lewis
- Research Associate, National Centre for Mental Health, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Richard Anney
- Senior Lecturer (Bioinformatics), MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Marianne B. M. van den Bree
- Professor of Psychological Medicine, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Jeremy Hall
- Director and Research Theme Lead, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, UK
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Rodriguez-Seijas C, Gadow KD, Rosen TE, Kim H, Lerner MD, Eaton NR. A transdiagnostic model of psychiatric symptom co-occurrence and autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2019; 13:579-590. [PMID: 31647197 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Understanding whether the co-occurrence of psychiatric symptoms within autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are specific to the ASD diagnosis or reflect similar higher-order patterns observed in both ASD and non-ASD samples, or a confluence of the two, is of critical importance. If similar, it would suggest that comorbid psychiatric conditions among individuals with ASD are not symptoms of specific, non-ASD psychiatric disorders per se, but reflect a general liability to psychopathology associated with ASD. To this end, the current study examined whether the higher-order structure of co-occurring psychiatric symptoms was the same within ASD and non-ASD youth. Parents of clinic-referred youth with (n = 280) and without (n = 943) ASD completed a DSM-IV-referenced psychiatric symptom rating scale. A confirmatory factor analytic framework was used to examine four levels of measurement invariance across groups to determine the extent to which transdiagnostic factors were comparable. Transdiagnostic factors were characterized by symptoms of the same disorders (configural invariance) and the same factor loadings across groups (metric invariance). Furthermore, both groups evidenced equivalent numbers of symptoms of most psychiatric conditions with the notable exceptions of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and social anxiety (partial strong invariance), which were higher in the ASD sample. It was concluded that disparities in the co-occurrence of psychiatric symptoms between youth with and without ASD may be largely reflective of transdiagnostic factor level differences associated with ASD and not indicative of the ASD diagnosis per se. However, for ADHD and social anxiety, there appears to be some specific associations with the ASD diagnosis. Autism Res 2020, 13: 579-590. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Few transdiagnostic dimensions relate common mental disorder diagnoses with one another. These dimensions explain psychiatric comorbidity (i.e., the finding that many persons possess several disorder diagnoses simultaneously). However, it is unclear if these dimensions differ among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), compared with their non-ASD counterparts. The results of this study demonstrate that underlying transdiagnostic dimensions are similar in both ASD and non-ASD children. However, there appear to be ASD-specific differences when it comes to social anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kenneth D Gadow
- Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
| | - Tamara E Rosen
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
| | - Hyunsik Kim
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
| | - Matthew D Lerner
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
| | - Nicholas R Eaton
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
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Burns A, Irvine M, Woodcock K. Self-Focused Attention and Depressive Symptoms in Adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:692-703. [PMID: 30218233 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3732-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Adults with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) are at high risk of developing comorbid depressive symptoms and in the general population self-focused attention has been associated with depression. Here, we aimed to examine the relationships between aspects of self-focused attention and symptoms of depression in individuals with a diagnosis of ASD. 113 adults with a diagnosis of ASD completed self-report questionnaires. Results found that higher levels of brooding, and to a lesser degree, reflection predicted increased depressive symptoms. However, higher levels of private self-consciousness actually predicted decreased depressive symptoms. Differential relationships were observed for males and females. The current study highlights the importance of using a multidimensional approach to examining self-focused attention in ASD, and its important relationship with depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Burns
- Queens University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Mandy Irvine
- South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Dundonald, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Kate Woodcock
- Queens University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. .,School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
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Hollocks MJ, Lerh JW, Magiati I, Meiser-Stedman R, Brugha TS. Anxiety and depression in adults with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychol Med 2019; 49:559-572. [PMID: 30178724 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291718002283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 378] [Impact Index Per Article: 75.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are thought to be at disproportionate risk of developing mental health comorbidities, with anxiety and depression being considered most prominent amongst these. Yet, no systematic review has been carried out to date to examine rates of both anxiety and depression focusing specifically on adults with ASD. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the rates of anxiety and depression in adults with ASD and the impact of factors such as assessment methods and presence of comorbid intellectual disability (ID) diagnosis on estimated prevalence rates. Electronic database searches for studies published between January 2000 and September 2017 identified a total of 35 studies, including 30 studies measuring anxiety (n = 26 070; mean age = 30.9, s.d. = 6.2 years) and 29 studies measuring depression (n = 26 117; mean age = 31.1, s.d. = 6.8 years). The pooled estimation of current and lifetime prevalence for adults with ASD were 27% and 42% for any anxiety disorder, and 23% and 37% for depressive disorder. Further analyses revealed that the use of questionnaire measures and the presence of ID may significantly influence estimates of prevalence. The current literature suffers from a high degree of heterogeneity in study method and an overreliance on clinical samples. These results highlight the importance of community-based studies and the identification and inclusion of well-characterized samples to reduce heterogeneity and bias in estimates of prevalence for comorbidity in adults with ASD and other populations with complex psychiatric presentations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jian Wei Lerh
- Department of Psychology,National University of Singapore,Singapore
| | - Iliana Magiati
- Department of Psychology,National University of Singapore,Singapore
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Ness SL, Bangerter A, Manyakov NV, Lewin D, Boice M, Skalkin A, Jagannatha S, Chatterjee M, Dawson G, Goodwin MS, Hendren R, Leventhal B, Shic F, Frazier JA, Janvier Y, King BH, Miller JS, Smith CJ, Tobe RH, Pandina G. An Observational Study With the Janssen Autism Knowledge Engine (JAKE ®) in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:111. [PMID: 30872988 PMCID: PMC6402449 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The Janssen Autism Knowledge Engine (JAKE®) is a clinical research outcomes assessment system developed to more sensitively measure treatment outcomes and identify subpopulations in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here we describe JAKE and present results from its digital phenotyping (My JAKE) and biosensor (JAKE Sense) components. Methods: An observational, non-interventional, prospective study of JAKE in children and adults with ASD was conducted at nine sites in the United States. Feedback on JAKE usability was obtained from caregivers. JAKE Sense included electroencephalography, eye tracking, electrocardiography, electrodermal activity, facial affect analysis, and actigraphy. Caregivers of individuals with ASD reported behaviors using My JAKE. Results from My JAKE and JAKE Sense were compared to traditional ASD symptom measures. Results: Individuals with ASD (N = 144) and a cohort of typically developing (TD) individuals (N = 41) participated in JAKE Sense. Most caregivers reported that overall use and utility of My JAKE was "easy" (69%, 74/108) or "very easy" (74%, 80/108). My JAKE could detect differences in ASD symptoms as measured by traditional methods. The majority of biosensors included in JAKE Sense captured sizable amounts of quality data (i.e., 93-100% of eye tracker, facial affect analysis, and electrocardiogram data was of good quality), demonstrated differences between TD and ASD individuals, and correlated with ASD symptom scales. No significant safety events were reported. Conclusions: My JAKE was viewed as easy or very easy to use by caregivers participating in research outside of a clinical study. My JAKE sensitively measured a broad range of ASD symptoms. JAKE Sense biosensors were well-tolerated. JAKE functioned well when used at clinical sites previously inexperienced with some of the technologies. Lessons from the study will optimize JAKE for use in clinical trials to assess ASD interventions. Additionally, because biosensors were able to detect features differentiating TD and ASD individuals, and also were correlated with standardized symptom scales, these measures could be explored as potential biomarkers for ASD and as endpoints in future clinical studies. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02668991 identifier: NCT02668991.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth L. Ness
- Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, Janssen Research & Development, Titusville, FL, United States
| | - Abigail Bangerter
- Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, Janssen Research & Development, Titusville, FL, United States
| | - Nikolay V. Manyakov
- Computational Biology, Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research & Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - David Lewin
- Statistically Speaking Consulting, LLC, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Matthew Boice
- Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, Janssen Research & Development, Titusville, FL, United States
| | - Andrew Skalkin
- Informatics, Janssen Research & Development, Spring House, PA, United States
| | - Shyla Jagannatha
- Statistical Decision Sciences, Janssen Research & Development, Titusville, NJ, United States
| | - Meenakshi Chatterjee
- Computational Biology, Discovery Sciences, Janssen Research & Development, Spring House, PA, United States
| | - Geraldine Dawson
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Matthew S. Goodwin
- Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Robert Hendren
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Bennett Leventhal
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Frederick Shic
- Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jean A. Frazier
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center and Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Yvette Janvier
- Department of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Children's Specialized Hospital, Toms River, NJ, United States
| | - Bryan H. King
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Judith S. Miller
- Center for Autism Research, Perelman School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Russell H. Tobe
- Department of Outpatient Research, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, United States
| | - Gahan Pandina
- Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, Janssen Research & Development, Pennington, NJ, United States
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Montazeri F, de Bildt A, Dekker V, Anderson GM. Network Analysis of Behaviors in the Depression and Autism Realms: Inter-Relationships and Clinical Implications. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 50:1580-1595. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-03914-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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41
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Measurement considerations in pediatric research on autism spectrum disorders. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2018. [PMID: 30447755 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Studying Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in genetic syndromes has gained interest in the scientific community as a way to elucidate mechanisms and symptom profiles to understand ASD more broadly. Appropriate and adequate measurement of constructs, symptomatology, and outcomes in clinical research is of vital importance in establishing the prevalence of such symptoms and measuring change in symptoms in the context of clinical trials. As such, we provide an overview of the prevalence of ASD, present current diagnostic guidelines, discuss important comorbidities to consider, describe current assessment strategies in assessing ASD, and discuss these within the context of a specific genetic condition to highlight how ASD can be best evaluated.
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Keefer A, Kreiser NL, Singh V, Blakeley-Smith A, Reaven J, Vasa RA. Exploring Relationships Between Negative Cognitions and Anxiety Symptoms in Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Behav Ther 2018; 49:730-740. [PMID: 30146140 DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Although cognitions are central to the conceptualization and treatment of anxiety in typically developing (TD) youth, there is scant research investigating automatic thoughts and their relationship with anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We sought to examine the types of automatic thoughts experienced by youth with ASD and co-occurring anxiety as well as the predictive relationship of anxiety to different types of automatic thoughts in 97 children, ages 8-14 years. We also explored the relationship of automatic thoughts and intolerance of uncertainty. Consistent with prior data, there was a strong relationship between anxiety and automatic thoughts pertaining to social and physical threat. Anxiety and IU were independently associated with thoughts pertaining to personal failure which raises the hypothesis that personal failure may serve as a common pathway between anxiety, IU, and depression in ASD youth. These findings highlight the importance of assessing and treating negative cognitions in youth with ASD and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Keefer
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Center for Autism and Related Disorders; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
| | | | - Vini Singh
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Center for Autism and Related Disorders
| | | | - Judy Reaven
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus School of Medicine
| | - Roma A Vasa
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Center for Autism and Related Disorders; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
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Gotham KO, Siegle GJ, Han GT, Tomarken AJ, Crist RN, Simon DM, Bodfish JW. Pupil response to social-emotional material is associated with rumination and depressive symptoms in adults with autism spectrum disorder. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200340. [PMID: 30086132 PMCID: PMC6080759 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is marked by repetitive thinking and high rates of depression. Understanding the extent to which repetitive negative thinking in ASD reflects autistic stereotypy versus general depressive thinking patterns (e.g., rumination) could help guide treatment research to improve emotional health in ASD. We compared associations between rumination, depressive symptoms, and pupil response to social-emotional material in adults with ASD and typically developing (TD) adults with and without depression. METHODS N = 53 verbally fluent young adults were recruited to three cohorts: ASD, n = 21; TD-depressed, n = 13; never-depressed TD-controls, n = 19. Participants completed Ruminative Response Scale and Beck Depression Inventory self-reports and a passive-viewing task employing emotionally-expressive faces, during which pupillary motility was assessed to quantify cognitive-affective load. Main and interactive effects of cohort, emotion condition, and time on pupil amplitude were tested via a linear mixed effects analysis of variance using restricted maximum likelihood estimation. Similar procedures were used to test for effects of rumination and depressive symptoms on pupil amplitude over time within ASD. RESULTS Responsive pupil dilation in the ASD cohort tended to be significantly lower than TD-depressed initially but increased to comparable levels by trial end. When viewing sad faces, individuals with ASD who had higher depression scores resembled TD-depressed participants' faster, larger, and sustained pupil response. Within ASD, depressive symptoms uniquely predicted early pupil response to sad faces, while rumination and depression scores each independently predicted sustained pupil response. CONCLUSIONS People with elevated depressive symptoms appear to have faster and greater increases in pupil-indexed neural activation following sad stimuli, regardless of ASD status, suggesting the utility of conceptualizing rumination as depression-like in treatment. Ruminative processes may increase more slowly in ASD, suggesting the potential utility of interventions that decrease reactions before they are uncontrollable. Findings also reinforce the importance of testing for effects of internalizing variables in broader ASD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine O. Gotham
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Greg J. Siegle
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Gloria T. Han
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Andrew J. Tomarken
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Rachel N. Crist
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - David M. Simon
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - James W. Bodfish
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
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Hedley D, Uljarević M, Foley KR, Richdale A, Trollor J. Risk and protective factors underlying depression and suicidal ideation in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Depress Anxiety 2018; 35:648-657. [PMID: 29659141 DOI: 10.1002/da.22759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are at significantly increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Given that social difficulties in ASD often lead to social isolation, which can in turn increase the risk for depression, this study examined loneliness and social support as potential risk and protective factors associated with depression and suicidal ideation. METHOD The sample comprised 185 people (92 females) with ASD aged 14 to 80 years who were participating in a national survey. RESULTS Forty-nine percent of participants returned scores in the clinical range for depression and 36% reported recent suicidal ideation. Females, comprising almost 50% of the sample, returned higher depression scores than males, however no differences were identified between males and females in terms of suicidal ideation. Regression analyses revealed that loneliness, satisfaction with social support, and ASD traits predicted depression scores. Satisfaction with social support predicted suicidal ideation, however, it was no longer a significant predictor after the effects of depression were taken into account. Path analysis showed that ASD trait severity was independently related to depression, that the effect of number of social supports on depression was mediated by loneliness and satisfaction with social support, and that effects of loneliness and satisfaction with social support on suicidal ideation were mediated by depression. The pattern of relationships was nearly identical for males and females. CONCLUSIONS This study supports a model whereby loneliness and social support operate respectively as protective and risk factors for depression and suicidal ideation in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Hedley
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mirko Uljarević
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Stanford Autism Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kitty-Rose Foley
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Department of Developmental Disability, Neuropsychiatry, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Amanda Richdale
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Julian Trollor
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Department of Developmental Disability, Neuropsychiatry, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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45
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Fan M, Jiang H, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Li L, Wu J. Liraglutide Enhances Autophagy and Promotes Pancreatic β Cell Proliferation to Ameliorate Type 2 Diabetes in High-Fat-Fed and Streptozotocin-Treated Mice. Med Sci Monit 2018; 24:2310-2316. [PMID: 29664069 PMCID: PMC5917824 DOI: 10.12659/msm.906286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Clinical and experimental studies have revealed that liraglutide has multiple anti-diabetes biological effects. However, little is known about its role in autophagy and pancreatic β cell proliferation. This study aimed to assessed the effects of liraglutide on pancreatic β cell proliferation and autophagy in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes. Material/Methods The effect of liraglutide on autophagy and proliferation in pancreatic β cells was investigated using a high-fat-fed and streptozotocin-induced mouse model of type 2 diabetes. Results Liraglutide significantly improved the symptoms of high-fat-fed (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic mice, as indicated by body weight gain, reduction of blood glucose and plasma insulin, and enhanced sensitivity to insulin. The results of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis showed that liraglutide upregulated AGT5 expression and promoted the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II, thus improving the defective autophagy. In addition, we observed that both mRNA and protein expressions of PCNA and Ki-67 were upregulated by liraglutide treatment. Immunocytochemical staining results showed that the number of PCNA- or Ki-67-positive cells in pancreatic islet tissues in the HFD + STZ + liraglutide group were increased compared with the HFD + STZ group. Conclusions These results strongly suggest that liraglutide is able to enhance autophagy and promote pancreatic β cell proliferation. This study improves our insights into the mechanism by which liraglutide treatment relieves diabetes, and provides experimental evidence for clinical utilization of liraglutide in type 2 diabetes treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menglin Fan
- Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China (mainland)
| | - Hongwei Jiang
- Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China (mainland)
| | - Yingyu Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China (mainland)
| | - Yujin Ma
- Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China (mainland)
| | - Liping Li
- Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China (mainland)
| | - Jiannan Wu
- Institute of Neurological Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China (mainland)
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Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at increased risk for experiencing one or more co-occurring psychiatric conditions. When present, these conditions are associated with additional impairment and distress. It is therefore crucial that clinicians and researchers adequately understand and address these challenges. However, due to symptom overlap, diagnostic overshadowing, and ambiguous symptom presentation in ASD, the assessment of co-occurring conditions in ASD is complex and challenging. Likewise, individual difference factors, such as age, intellectual functioning, and gender, may influence the presentation of co-occurring symptoms. Relatedly, a transdiagnostic framework may offer utility in assessing and treating co-occurring conditions. However, with the exception of anxiety disorders, treatment research for co-occurring psychiatric conditions in ASD is relatively limited. Therefore, the present paper aims to summarize and review available research on the most common co-occurring psychiatric disorders in ASD, with a focus on estimated population-based prevalence rates, diagnostic challenges, the influence of individual differences, and assessment guidelines. The utility of a transdiagnostic framework for conceptualizing co-occurring disorders in ASD is discussed, and the state of treatment research for co-occurring disorders is summarized. This study concludes with a summary of the extant literature, as well as recommendations for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara E Rosen
- a Stony Brook University , Department of Psychology , Stony Brook , NY , USA
| | - Carla A Mazefsky
- b University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Department of Psychiatry , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
| | - Roma A Vasa
- c Kennedy Krieger Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Matthew D Lerner
- a Stony Brook University , Department of Psychology , Stony Brook , NY , USA
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Keefer A, White SW, Vasa RA, Reaven J. Psychosocial interventions for internalizing disorders in youth and adults with ASD. Int Rev Psychiatry 2018. [PMID: 29537895 DOI: 10.1080/09540261.2018.1432575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Internalizing disorders are common in individuals with ASD. Psychosocial interventions targeting these disorders in the ASD population have burgeoned in the last decade. Cognitive-behavioural therapy, modified for ASD, is the most frequently investigated model, although other interventions, including behaviour therapy, third-wave interventions, models targeting transdiagnostic constructs, and alternative interventions and treatment delivery methods are now emerging. This review provides a summary of the efficacy of these interventions in treating internalizing disorders in youth and adults with ASD. The barriers to accessing these treatments, which are experienced by many individuals with ASD and their families, as well as future research directions, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Keefer
- a Center for Autism and Related Disorders , Kennedy Krieger Institute , Baltimore , MD , USA.,b Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Susan W White
- c Department of Psychology , Virginia Tech , Blacksburg , VA , USA
| | - Roma A Vasa
- a Center for Autism and Related Disorders , Kennedy Krieger Institute , Baltimore , MD , USA.,b Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA
| | - Judy Reaven
- d Department of Psychiatry , University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , CO , USA
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Cassidy SA, Bradley L, Bowen E, Wigham S, Rodgers J. Measurement properties of tools used to assess depression in adults with and without autism spectrum conditions: A systematic review. Autism Res 2018; 11:738-754. [PMID: 29360200 PMCID: PMC6001465 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Depression is the most commonly experienced mental health condition in adults with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). However, it is unclear what tools are currently being used to assess depression in ASC, or whether tools need to be adapted for this group. This systematic review therefore aimed to identify tools used to assess depression in adults with and without ASC, and then evaluate these tools for their appropriateness and measurement properties. Medline, PsychINFO and Web of Knowledge were searched for studies of depression in: (a) adults with ASC, without co‐morbid intellectual disability; and (b) adults from the general population without co‐morbid conditions. Articles examining the measurement properties of these tools were then searched for using a methodological filter in PubMed, and the quality of the evidence was evaluated using the COSMIN checklist. Twelve articles were identified which utilized three tools to assess depression in adults with ASC, but only one article which assessed the measurement properties of one of these tools was identified and thus evaluated. Sixty‐four articles were identified which utilized five tools to assess depression in general population adults, and fourteen articles had assessed the measurement properties of these tools. Overall, two tools were found to be robust in their measurement properties in the general population—the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐II), and the patient health questionnaire (PHQ‐9). Crucially only one study was identified from the COSMIN search, which showed weak evidence in support of the measurement properties of the BDI‐II in an ASC sample. Implications for effective measurement of depression in ASC are discussed. Autism Res2018, 11: 738–754. © 2018 The Authors Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay Summary Depression is the most common mental health problem experienced by adults with autism. However, the current study found very limited evidence regarding how useful tools developed for the general population are for adults with autism. We therefore suggest how these tools could be adapted to more effectively assess depression in adults with autism, and improve these individuals access to mental health assessment and support.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Cassidy
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, UK.,Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, UK.,Centre for Innovative Research Across the Life Course, Coventry University, UK
| | - L Bradley
- Centre for Innovative Research Across the Life Course, Coventry University, UK
| | - E Bowen
- Centre for Violence Prevention, University of Worcester, UK
| | - S Wigham
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, UK
| | - J Rodgers
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, UK
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Zhang WL, Meng HZ, Yang RF, Yang MW, Sun GH, Liu JH, Shi PX, Liu F, Yang B. Melatonin suppresses autophagy in type 2 diabetic osteoporosis. Oncotarget 2018; 7:52179-52194. [PMID: 27438148 PMCID: PMC5239543 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is often complicated by osteoporosis, a process which may involve osteoblast autophagy. As melatonin suppresses autophagy under certain conditions, we its investigated the effects on bone autophagy during diabetes. We first assessed different body parameters in a diabetic rat model treated with various concentrations of melatonin. Dynamic biomechanicalmeasurements, bone organization hard slice dyeing and micro-CT were used to observe the rat bone microstructure, and immunohistochemistry was used to determine levels of autophagy biomarkers. We also performed in vitro experiments on human fetal osteoblastic (hFOB1.19) cells cultured with high glucose, different concentrations of melatonin, and ERK pathway inhibitors. And we used Western blotting and immunofluorescence to measure the extent of osteogenesis and autophagy. We found that melatonin improved the bone microstructure in our rat diabetes model and reduced the level of autophagy(50 mg/kg was better than 100 mg/kg). Melatonin also enhanced osteogenesis and suppressed autophagy in osteoblasts cultured at high glucose levels (10 μM was better than 1 mM). This suggests melatonin may reduce the level of autophagy in osteoblasts and delay diabetes-induced osteoporosis by inhibiting the ERK signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Lin Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Hong-Zheng Meng
- Department of Orthopedics, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Rui-Fei Yang
- School of Medical Applied Technology, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Mao-Wei Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Guang-Hong Sun
- Department of Orthopedics, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jun-Hua Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Peng-Xu Shi
- Department of Orthopedics, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Russell A, Cooper K, Barton S, Ensum I, Gaunt D, Horwood J, Ingham B, Kessler D, Metcalfe C, Parr J, Rai D, Wiles N. Protocol for a feasibility study and randomised pilot trial of a low-intensity psychological intervention for depression in adults with autism: the Autism Depression Trial (ADEPT). BMJ Open 2017; 7:e019545. [PMID: 29203509 PMCID: PMC5736092 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION High rates of co-occurring depression are reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by social communication impairments and repetitive behaviours. Cognitive-behavioural interventions adapted for ASD have been effective for anxiety problems. There have been evaluation studies of group cognitive-behavioural therapy for co-occurring depression, but no randomised trials investigating low-intensity psychological interventions as recommended in clinical guidelines for mild-moderate depression. METHODS AND ANALYSIS A feasibility study comprising a randomised controlled trial (RCT) and nested qualitative evaluation is under way as preparation for a definitive RCT. Participants (n=70) will be randomised to Guided Self-Help: a low-intensity psychological intervention based on behavioural activation adapted for ASD or treatment as usual. Outcomes including depression symptoms, anxiety, social function and service use will be measured at 10, 16 and 24 weeks postrandomisation and will be blind to group allocation for measures that are not self-administered. The analysis will aim to establish the rates of recruitment and retention for a larger-scale RCT as well as the most appropriate measure of depression to serve as primary outcome. The qualitative study will purposively sample up to 24 participants from each treatment group to consider the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention and the trial design. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval has been received from WALES REC 3 (IRAS project ID: 191558) and the Health Research Authority with R&D approval from Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership and Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Foundation NHS Trusts. To our knowledge, this is the first study of a low-intensity intervention for depression in adults with autism. The results will inform the design of a definitive RCT. Dissemination will include peer-reviewed journal publications reporting the quantitative and qualitative research findings of the study and presentations at national and international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN54650760; Pre-results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailsa Russell
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Kate Cooper
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Stephen Barton
- Newcastle Cognitive and Behaviour Therapies (CBT) Centre, Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- School of Psychology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingtom
| | - Ian Ensum
- Bristol Adult Autism Services, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, Chippenham, UK
| | - Daisy Gaunt
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jeremy Horwood
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Barry Ingham
- Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Northumberland, UK
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, UK
| | - David Kessler
- Population Health Sciences, School of Social and Community Medicine, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Chris Metcalfe
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Randomised Trials Collaboration, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jeremy Parr
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, UK
| | - Dheeraj Rai
- Population Health Sciences, School of Social and Community Medicine, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Nicola Wiles
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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