Abstract
Mothers of 627 children with autism (ages 1–17, IQs 16–146) completed the Pediatric Behavior Scale. Maternal ratings of anxiety
and depression increased with age and IQ, but were unrelated to gender, parent occupation, and race. Anxiety and depression
were highly correlated with each other and with autism severity, somatic complaints, mood disturbance, and social problems.
Remaining correlations with behavior problems, attention deficit, hyperactivity, and sleep problems were small. The strongest
combined predictors of anxiety and depression were autism severity, verbal IQ, and age, explaining 25% and 23% of the variance.
Findings suggest that anxiety and depression have a direct link with autism (increasing with autism severity) and a developmental
component (increasing with age and IQ). Anxiety is present in most children with autism and depression is present in about
half. Therefore, all children with autism should be screened for anxiety and depression and treated if indicated. Controlled
studies are needed to determine what interventions are effective in reducing anxiety and depression in autism.
and depression increased with age and IQ, but were unrelated to gender, parent occupation, and race. Anxiety and depression
were highly correlated with each other and with autism severity, somatic complaints, mood disturbance, and social problems.
Remaining correlations with behavior problems, attention deficit, hyperactivity, and sleep problems were small. The strongest
combined predictors of anxiety and depression were autism severity, verbal IQ, and age, explaining 25% and 23% of the variance.
Findings suggest that anxiety and depression have a direct link with autism (increasing with autism severity) and a developmental
component (increasing with age and IQ). Anxiety is present in most children with autism and depression is present in about
half. Therefore, all children with autism should be screened for anxiety and depression and treated if indicated. Controlled
studies are needed to determine what interventions are effective in reducing anxiety and depression in autism.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s10882-011-9231-7
- Authors
- Susan Dickerson Mayes, Department of Psychiatry, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA USA
- Susan L. Calhoun, Department of Psychiatry, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA USA
- Michael J. Murray, Department of Psychiatry, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA USA
- Jahanara Zahid, Department of Psychiatry, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA USA
- Journal Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities
- Online ISSN 1573-3580
- Print ISSN 1056-263X