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Cited by 56Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentChild Nutrition and Feeding Issues

Psychiatric conditions in autistic adolescents: longitudinal stability from childhood and associated risk factors

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Hollocks, Matthew J., Leno, Virginia Carter, Chandler, Susie, White, Pippa, Yorke, Isabel, Charman, Tony, Pickles, Andrew, Baird, Gillian, Simonoff, Emily·2023·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
DOI 10.1007/s00787-022-02065-9PMC PMC10576662
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Abstract

Autistic people experience high rates of co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses. Current prevalence estimates vary considerably due to an over-reliance on clinical cohorts and the longitudinal stability of diagnoses from childhood into adolescence is poorly understood. This study aims to provide prevalence rates of co-occurring DSM-5 psychiatric diagnosis for autistic adolescence and investigate, for the first time, the stability of diagnoses from childhood. Using a longitudinal stratified sample of autistic youth ( N = 77; 13–17 years; 60% male), selected from a larger community-derived sample of those with pre-existing autism diagnoses ( N = 277) weighted prevalence estimates of emotional (anxiety, depression), behavioural (oppositional and conduct disorders) and ADHD diagnoses were calculated based on semi-structured psychiatric interview. Prediction of adolescent psychiatric diagnosis based on childhood diagnostic status, sex, childhood IQ (both assessed at age 4–10 years) was tested. Emotional and behavioural disorders in adolescence were particularly prevalent, and significantly predicted by childhood disorder status. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder (ADHD) was prevalent but not predicted by childhood ADHD diagnosis. Neither sex nor childhood IQ predicted diagnostic outcomes. Autistic youth have high levels of co-occurring psychiatric conditions, which are broadly persistent across childhood and adolescence. Emotional disorders are particularly prevalent and remain persistent from childhood to adolescence. Greater diagnostic variability was found for ADHD with more adolescents moving across diagnostic thresholds.

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Authors
Hollocks, M. J., Leno, V. C., Chandler, S., White, P., Yorke, I., Charman, T., Pickles, A., Baird, G., & Simonoff, E.
Affiliations
  • King's College London (GB)
  • Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
Corresponding author
Hollocks, Matthew J.
ORCID
Venue
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2022-08-17
Volume
32
Issue
11
Pages
2197-2208
ISSN
  • 1018-8827 (ISSN-L)
  • 1435-165X
DOI
10.1007/s00787-022-02065-9
PMC
PMC10576662
OpenAlex
W4292092505
Cited by
56
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2
FWCI
5.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Programme Grants for Applied Research (RP-PG-1211-20016)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, autistic adolescents, psychiatric comorbidity, transition to adolescence, anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional disorder, emotional disorders, behavioural disorders, prevalence, child IQ, sex differences
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Autistic Disorder, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Male, Risk Factors, Comorbidity, Conduct Disorder

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