title: Psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial difficulties in young adults with autistic traits.
abstract: A screening version of the social responsiveness scale (SRS) was administered to 1,847 university students to identify a subgroup reporting significantly greater autism traits relative to their peers (High SRS group). A group reporting minimal autism traits was also identified (Low SRS group) matched for age, gender, and attentional difficulties. We administered the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-2nd edition (BASC-2), a comprehensive questionnaire designed to assess psychiatric symptoms and personality characteristics, to both groups. The high SRS group reported significantly more difficulties across the majority of areas, including depression/anxiety, interpersonal relationships, and personal adjustment. Thus, young adults reporting a greater degree of autistic traits also reported greater psychiatric difficulties across a wide psychosocial range.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Psychology and Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA. kannest@health.missouri.edu
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kanne
authors.forename: Shawn E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Christ
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Reiersen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008923:Missouri; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult