1. Clinically Significant Anxiety in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Varied Intellectual Functioning
- Author
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Kerns, Connor M, Winder-Patel, Breanna, Iosif, Ana Maria, Nordahl, Christine Wu, Heath, Brianna, Solomon, Marjorie, and Amaral, David G
- Subjects
Clinical and Health Psychology ,Psychology ,Mental Illness ,Autism ,Pediatric ,Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Mental Health ,Anxiety Disorders ,Clinical Research ,Brain Disorders ,4.2 Evaluation of markers and technologies ,Mental health ,Adolescent ,Anxiety ,Autism Spectrum Disorder ,Child ,Cognition ,Humans ,Phobic Disorders ,Cognitive Sciences ,Developmental & Child Psychology ,Applied and developmental psychology ,Clinical and health psychology ,Social and personality psychology - Abstract
Objective: To evaluate how distinct presentations of anxiety symptoms and intellectual impairment influence the measurement and estimated rate of clinically significant anxiety in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Method: The sample included 75 children (ages 9-13 years) with ASD and varied IQ and 52 typically developing (TD) controls and parents. Parents completed anxiety symptom scales and a diagnostic interview, designed to (1) differentiate anxiety and ASD and (2) examine DSM-specified and unspecified ("distinct") anxiety presentations in each child, including fears of change, special interests, idiosyncratic stimuli and social confusion rather than evaluation. Children completed standard intellectual and ASD diagnostic assessments.Results: 69% of those with ASD had clinically-significant anxiety, including 21% DSM-specified anxiety disorders, 17% distinct anxiety, and 31% both. Only 8% of TD children had clinically-significant anxiety, all DSM-specified. DSM-specified anxiety disorders in children with ASD and intellectual impairment (IQ
- Published
- 2021