Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder traits are a more important predictor of internalising problems than autistic traits.

Researchers studied 504 UK adults to understand how autism and ADHD traits relate to anxiety and depression. They found that while both autism and ADHD traits can predict mental health problems, ADHD traits were a stronger predictor than autism traits. This helps us better understand why people with these conditions often experience anxiety and depression, and suggests they may need different types of support.

This UK study examined how autism and ADHD traits independently predict anxiety and depression in 504 adults from the general population. Using statistical analyses including dominance and Bayesian approaches, researchers found that while both autism and ADHD traits uniquely contribute to internalising problems, ADHD traits emerged as a stronger and more important predictor. The study addresses the challenge of separating the individual contributions of these often co-occurring conditions to mental health outcomes. The findings suggest differential mechanisms underlying how autism and ADHD traits relate to anxiety and depression, with implications for understanding neurodevelopmental conditions and their mental health comorbidities.

Findings suggest clinicians should prioritise mental health screening for individuals with ADHD traits while maintaining awareness that autism traits also contribute to internalising problems. Different intervention approaches may be needed based on the primary neurodevelopmental profile presenting.

Study used brief depression and anxiety measures that may not comprehensively assess internalising problems. Sample was representative for age and sex but not ethnicity, which may be linked to internalising disorders. Cross-sectional design limits causal inferences.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are both linked to internalising problems like anxiety and depression. ASD and ADHD also often co-occur, making their individual statistical contributions to internalising disorders difficult to investigate. To address this issue, we explored the unique associations of self-reported ASD traits and ADHD traits with internalising problems using a large general population sample of adults from the United Kingdom (N = 504, 49% male). Classical regression analyses indicated that both ASD traits and ADHD traits were uniquely associated with internalising problems.

Dominance and Bayesian analyses confirmed that ADHD traits were a stronger, more important predictor of internalising problems. However, brief depression and anxiety measures may not provide a comprehensive index of internalising problems. Additionally, we focused on recruiting a sample that was representative of the UK population according to age and sex, but not ethnicity, a variable that may be linked to internalising disorders. Nevertheless, our findings indicate that while ASD and ADHD uniquely predict internalising problems, ADHD traits are a more important statistical predictor than ASD traits.

We discuss potential mechanisms underlying this pattern of results and the implications for research and clinical practice concerning neurodevelopmental conditions.