Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Neuroscience
  • About
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Highest rates of depression seen in individuals with autism who have above average intelligence

by The Conversation
August 5, 2018
in News
(Photo credit: marjan4782)

(Photo credit: marjan4782)

Share on TwitterShare on Facebook

Nearly half of adults with autism will experience clinical depression in their lifetime, according to our new research published in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.

Depression can have devastating consequences for individuals with autism, including a loss of previously learned skills, greater difficulty carrying out everyday tasks, and at worst, suicide. People with autism should be regularly screened for depression so that they can access appropriate treatment.

Autism is a disorder that involves difficulties with social interactions and restricted repetitive patterns of behaviours. Autism also raises risk for severe mental illness.

Until now, researchers and clinicians did not know how many individuals with autism were affected by depression.

Our study, which involved a systematic review of nearly 8,000 research articles, now reveals clear evidence that depression is highly prevalent in both children and adults with autism. It also reveals that depression is more common in individuals with autism who have higher intelligence.

Symptoms of depression and autism

Clinical depression is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by a longstanding pattern of negative mood.

Additional symptoms include loss of interest in activities, physiological changes (e.g. sleep, appetite, or energy disturbance), cognitive changes (e.g. feelings of worthlessness, difficulties with attention) and suicidal thoughts or actions.

In the general population, clinical depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

Google News Preferences Add PsyPost to your preferred sources

Depression in autism is defined by these same criteria, but the symptoms can be challenging to detect.

Individuals with autism often have trouble identifying and communicating their feelings. Clinicians may have to rely on observed behaviour changes, or the reports of others close to the individual to make a diagnosis.

Clinicians also have to be particularly careful that they do not confuse the symptoms of depression with the symptoms of autism. For example, people with autism and people with depression have difficulties with social relationships.

The key difference between these groups is why they experience these problems. People with autism often lack the social skills necessary to engage with others. In contrast, people with depression often withdraw from others because they lose the ability to find pleasure in their social interactions.

Higher IQ, higher rates of depression

We found that the highest rates of depression are seen in individuals with autism who have above average intelligence.

This finding is in contrast to the general population, where lower intelligence is associated with higher rates of depression.

While this study did not look into why higher intelligence was associated with higher depression rates in autism, we can make some guesses.

On the one hand, it could be that individuals with autism who have above average intelligence are more aware of the social difficulties associated with their autism diagnosis, and this awareness leads to higher rates of depression.

On the other hand, it could be that individuals with below average intelligence have difficulties communicating their symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose depression in this subgroup.

The impact of research methods

We also learned that how studies assessed depression influenced the rates of depression. Rates were highest among studies that used standardized structured interviews to assess depression, compared to studies that used less formal assessment methods.

It is possible that structured interviews may be picking up on symptoms that other assessment methods are missing. At the same time, structured interviews may bias the prevalence of depression because these interviews were not designed for people with autism.

Depression is also more common when clinicians ask the person with autism directly about their symptoms, rather than asking a caregiver.

It is possible that individuals with autism are experiencing depressive symptoms that their caregivers are missing. It is also possible that studies used a caregiver when participants were not able to report on their own symptoms (for example because of low intelligence).

Depression is more widespread in people with autism than we previously thought.

The ConversationThis important research will hopefully prompt clinicians to include an assessment of depression in their routine clinical practice with people with autism. This assessment will ensure that people with autism are receiving appropriate treatment.

By Chloe C. Hudson, PhD Student, Queen’s University, Ontario and Kate Harkness, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry and Director of the Mood Research Laboratory, Queen’s University, Ontario

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

RELATED

Mothers with poor sleep tend to be less responsive and nurturing towards their toddler
News

Here are 8 tips from clinical psychology experts to reduce parenting stress during the coronavirus pandemic

April 23, 2020
Using machine-learning systems to predict changes in the Alzheimer’s brain
News

The neuroscience of loneliness – and how technology is helping us

April 17, 2020
Study suggests humor could be an emotion regulation strategy for depression
News

Psychology research shows isolating together is challenging — and relationship stresses can affect biological functioning

April 13, 2020
News

Porn use is up thanks to the coronavirus pandemic — and might actually help ‘flatten the curve’

April 13, 2020
Progressive muscle relaxation can help to reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality in COVID-19 patients
News

Psychology experts explain how to stop touching your face to minimize spread of coronavirus and other germs

April 3, 2020
Here’s why the coronavirus pandemic could ignite an outbreak of clinical depression
News

Here’s why the coronavirus pandemic could ignite an outbreak of clinical depression

April 2, 2020
Your brain evolved to hoard supplies and shame others for doing the same
News

Your brain evolved to hoard supplies and shame others for doing the same

March 27, 2020
A psychological explanation for why some people believe coronavirus hoaxes and conspiracy theories
News

A psychological explanation for why some people believe coronavirus hoaxes and conspiracy theories

March 24, 2020

PsyPost Merch

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

Scientists asked men smell hundreds of different vulvar odors to test the “leaky-cue hypothesis”

Blue light exposure may counteract anxiety caused by chronic vibration

Relatives with lower paternity uncertainty are perceived as kinder

Specific brain training regimen linked to lower dementia risk in 20-year study

Childhood trauma scores fail to predict violent misconduct in juvenile detention

Study finds mindfulness creates lasting improvements in visual memory

High rates of screen time linked to specific differences in toddler vocabulary

Hippocampal neurons shift their activity backward in time to anticipate rewards

RSS Psychology of Selling

  • The psychology behind “creepy” personalized marketing is being explored by researchers
  • A new framework for understanding influencer income
  • Sales agents often stay for autonomy rather than financial rewards
  • The economics of emotion: Reassessing the link between happiness and spending
  • Surprising link found between greed and poor work results among salespeople
         
       

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Mental Health
  • Neuroimaging
  • Personality Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Contact us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Do not sell my personal information

(c) PsyPost Media Inc

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

(c) PsyPost Media Inc