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Psychiatric Comorbidity and Functioning in a Clinically Referred Population of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Comparative Study

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Abstract

To systematically examine the patterns of psychiatric comorbidity and functioning in clinically referred adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Psychiatrically referred adults with and without ASD were compared on measures assessing for psychiatric comorbidity and psychosocial functioning. Sixty-three adults with ASD participated in the study (mean age: 29 ± 11 years). Adults with ASD in their lifetime suffered from a higher burden of psychiatric disorders (6 ± 3.4 vs. 3.5 ± 2.7; p < 0.001) including major depressive disorder and multiple anxiety disorders, and were functionally more impaired with a significant proportion having received both counseling and pharmacotherapy. Adults with ASD have high levels of psychiatric comorbidity and dysfunction comparable to a clinically referred population of adults without ASD.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been funded in part by the Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Norma Fine Pediatric Psychopharmacology Fellowship Fund.

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  1. Jonathan Stevens

    Present address: Department of Child Psychiatry, North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA, USA

  2. Carter Petty

    Present address: Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical and Research Program in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital, YAW 6900, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Gagan Joshi, Janet Wozniak, Carter Petty, Mary Kate Martelon, Ronna Fried, Anela Bolfek, Amelia Kotte, Jonathan Stevens, Stephannie L. Furtak, Michelle Bourgeois, Janet Caruso, Ashley Caron & Joseph Biederman

  2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Gagan Joshi, Janet Wozniak, Ronna Fried, Anela Bolfek, Amelia Kotte, Jonathan Stevens & Joseph Biederman

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  1. Gagan Joshi
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Joshi, G., Wozniak, J., Petty, C. et al. Psychiatric Comorbidity and Functioning in a Clinically Referred Population of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Comparative Study. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 1314–1325 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1679-5

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