title: Comorbid psychiatric conditions as mediators to predict later social adjustment in youths with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience long-term social impairment and their comorbid psychiatric conditions negatively impact adaptive functioning. The aims of the study are to investigate whether comorbid psychopathologies, such as anxiety/depression, inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and oppositional behaviors, mediated the link between autistic symptoms and social maladjustment.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty-four youths diagnosed with a clinical diagnosis of DSM-IV ASD (mean age, 10.6 ± 3.3 years) participated in this longitudinal study. They were assessed using semistructured diagnostic interviews on ASD and other psychiatric conditions at recruitment. Follow-up interviews took place approximately 3 years later (37.59 ± 15 months) while the parents reported to the Social Adjustment Inventory for Children and Adolescents on their children's social adjustment. Mediation models were used to examine the mediating effect of comorbid psychopathologies on social adjustment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Youths with ASD had worse school, peer, and home functions than controls at follow-up assessment. In general, comorbid psychiatric conditions mediated the link between autistic symptoms and different domains of social adjustment, independent of age, sex, and full-scale IQ. Additionally, we found specific mediating effects of anxiety/depression and inattention on school functions; anxiety/depression on peer relationships; and oppositional behaviors on home behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early comorbid psychopathologies may further impair later social adjustment in youths with ASD and an early identification and intervention of these comorbid conditions are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Psychiatry, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Huey-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Susan Shur-Fen
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gau
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; anxiety; depression; hyperactivity/impulsivity; inattention; mediator; oppositional; social adjustment