Psychiatric comorbidity and functioning in a clinically referred population of adults with autism spectrum disorders: a comparative study.
To systematically examine the patterns of psychiatric comorbidity and functioning in clinically referred adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Psychiatrically referred adults with and without ASD were compared on measures assessing for psychiatric comorbidity and psychosocial functioning. Sixty-three adults with ASD participated in the study (mean age: 29 ± 11 years). Adults with ASD in their lifetime suffered from a higher burden of psychiatric disorders (6 ± 3.4 vs. 3.5 ± 2.7; p < 0.001) including major depressive disorder and multiple anxiety disorders, and were functionally more impaired with a significant proportion having received both counseling and pharmacotherapy. Adults with ASD have high levels of psychiatric comorbidity and dysfunction comparable to a clinically referred population of adults without ASD.
Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital, YAW 6900, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. joshi.gagan@mgh.harvard.edu
Gagan
G
Joshi
Janet
J
Wozniak
Carter
C
Petty
Mary Kate
MK
Martelon
Ronna
R
Fried
Anela
A
Bolfek
Amelia
A
Kotte
Jonathan
J
Stevens
Stephannie L
SL
Furtak
Michelle
M
Bourgeois
Janet
J
Caruso
Ashley
A
Caron
Joseph
J
Biederman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult