Association of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Traits with Depression and Empathy Among Medical Students
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PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the associations of the traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with depression and empathy among medical students. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 202 fifth-year students at a Japanese medical school for 10 months during their clinical clerkship. The survey included sociodemographic questions and validated tools to measure depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]), medical students' empathy for patients (Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Student version [JSE]), ADHD traits (ADHD Self-Report Scale Screener [ASRS Screener]), and ASD traits (Autism-Spectrum Quotient Japanese version-21 [AQ-J-21]). RESULTS: A total of 151 students (response rate: 74.7%) participated in the survey. Of these, 41 (27.2%) reported a total score of ≥ 20 on the HADS and were categorized as depressed. Depressed students reported significantly lower and higher rates of having a part-time job and a history of enrolment in other faculties, respectively, than non-depressed students. According to the cutoff criteria of the ASRS Screener and AQ-J-21, 31 (20.5%) and 42 (27.8%) students reported ADHD and ASD traits, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis, controlling for age and sex, reported that higher age, ASRS Screener scores, and AQ-J-21 scores were significant predictors of higher HADS total scores. Additionally, higher AQ-J-21 scores significantly predicted lower JSE scores. CONCLUSION: The degree of ADHD and ASD traits was significantly associated with depression. Moreover, the degree of ASD traits was significantly associated with lower empathy for their patients. It is important to consider that about 20-30% of medical students have these neurodevelopmental traits and to develop intervention strategies for improving depression and empathy.
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A previous study in Japan reported that ALTs were significantly associated with clinical depression among medical students in clinical clerkships.
“A previous study in Japan also reported that ALTs were significantly associated with clinically depression among medical students in clinical clerkships [31].”
From The mediating role of psychological flexibility in the association of autistic-like traits with burnout and depression in medical students during clinical clerkships in Japan: a university-based cross-sectional study (2023) · cites this paper as [31]
The Discussion reports a significant positive association between ASD traits and depression severity among Japanese medical students during clinical clerkships. The study measured depressive symptoms and used a screening cutoff; it did not establish an association with clinically diagnosed depression. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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References 36 · Cited by 15
- Authors
- Watanabe, T., Kondo, M., Sakai, M., Takabatake, S., Furukawa, T., & Akechi, T.
- Affiliations
- Nagoya City University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Watanabe, Takafumi
- Venue
- Advances in Medical Education and Practice
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2021-10
- Volume
- Volume 12
- Pages
- 1259-1265
- ISSN
- 1179-7258 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8560068
- OpenAlex
- W3210343401
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3
- FWCI
- 2.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Advances in Medical Education and Practice (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Dove Medical Press (Taylor and Francis Group) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Funders
- Nagoya City University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Keywords
- autistic traits, depression, empathy, medical students, neurodevelopmental traits, clinical rotations, part-time work, predictors of depression
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