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

Researchers followed 77 autistic teenagers to see if mental health conditions from childhood continued into their teen years. They found that anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems were very common and usually continued from childhood. ADHD was also common but more variable - some teens developed it newly while others no longer met criteria. The study shows autistic young people have high rates of mental health conditions that tend to persist over time.

This longitudinal study examined psychiatric conditions in 77 autistic adolescents (ages 13-17) from a community-derived sample, tracking diagnostic stability from childhood. Using structured psychiatric interviews, researchers found high prevalence of emotional disorders (anxiety, depression) and behavioral disorders (oppositional, conduct disorders) in autistic youth. Childhood psychiatric diagnoses significantly predicted adolescent diagnoses for emotional and behavioral conditions, demonstrating stability over time. ADHD was prevalent but showed greater diagnostic variability, with adolescents moving across diagnostic thresholds.

Neither sex nor childhood IQ predicted outcomes. This community-based approach provides more representative prevalence estimates than clinic-based studies.

Results support early screening and intervention for psychiatric conditions in autistic children, as these conditions tend to persist into adolescence. Ongoing monitoring is essential, particularly for ADHD which showed more developmental variability. Clinical services should prepare for high rates of co-occurring conditions regardless of sex or cognitive ability.

Small sample size (N=77) limits generalizability. Study type not specified in metadata. Unclear prevalence rates not provided in abstract. Limited detail on specific diagnostic criteria or assessment timepoints.

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.