title: Low rates of depressed mood and depression diagnoses in a clinic review of children and adolescents with autistic disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression diagnoses and related clinical data in an outpatient sample of youth with autistic disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of 123 psychiatrically referred children and adolescents with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed., Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) diagnosis of autistic disorder were examined. Mood disorder diagnoses and chief complaints along with family mood disorder history were the primary variables analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four subjects (3%) presented with depressed mood. Irritability complaints were frequent (n=78, 63%). Six subjects (5%) received a mood disorder diagnosis; all with mood disorder, not otherwise specified. No subjects received a depressive disorder diagnosis. Family history of mood disorders was common.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings raise questions about the appropriate characterization and potential misdiagnoses of depression in youth with autistic disorder.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nowinski
authors.forename: Karmen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koesterer
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrone
authors.forename: Jessaca
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spybrook
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence