Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20271
Title: Prevalence, structure and correlates of anxiety-depression in boys with an autism spectrum disorder
Contributor(s): Bitsika, Vicki  (author)orcid ; Sharpley, Christopher  (author)orcid ; Andronicos, Nicholas  (author)orcid ; Agnew, Linda  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2015.11.011
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20271
Abstract: Background Comorbidity of anxiety and depression predicts impaired treatment outcomes, poor quality of life and increased suicide risk. No study has reported on a combined measure of anxiety-depression in boys with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Aims To explore the prevalence, underlying factor structure and relationships between anxiety-depression, physiological stress and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Methods 150 boys (aged 6-18 years; IQ M = 94.9, range = 73-132) with an ASD plus their parents (135 mothers, 15 fathers) completed scales about the boys' anxiety and depression, and the boys provided samples of their saliva in the morning and afternoon. Parents also completed the ASD Behaviour Checklist about the boys' ASD symptoms. Results The two sources of ratings were not significantly different for prevalence of anxiety-depression but the factor structures varied between the parents' and boys' responses, with a four-factor solution for the boys' ratings and a three-factor solution for the parents' ratings. There were also differences in the correlations between cortisol and anxiety-depression and between ASD symptoms and anxiety depression across the boys' and parents' data. Conclusions Assessment of anxiety and depression comorbidity from parents and from children with an ASD themselves could provide a valuable adjunct datum when diagnosing ASD.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Research in Developmental Disabilities, v.49-50, p. 302-311
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Place of Publication: United Kingdom
ISSN: 1873-3379
0891-4222
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 110903 Central Nervous System
110319 Psychiatry (incl. Psychotherapy)
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 320903 Central nervous system
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 920111 Nervous System and Disorders
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 200409 Mental health
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Science and Technology

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