the watson institute adolescents with autism spectrum disorders are at greater risk for developing...

The Watson Institute Adolescents with autism spectrum disorders are at greater risk for developing depression when compared to children without an autism spectrum disorder (Barnhill, 2001; Ghaziuddin et al., 1998; Tantam, 1991). Research indicates as many as 38% of children with autism spectrum disorders also suffer from depression (Stewart et al., 2006; Lainhart, 1999). As children with autism spectrum disorders have difficulty identifying and expressing their emotions, they may not be able to accurately label and interpret their feelings on standardized measures. Therefore, clinicians should be guarded when using psychological instruments that require the child to self-identify their depressive symptomatology as a means of diagnosing co- morbid depression. Instead they should consider alternative sources for diagnosing depression. Increase the sample size Use the parent version of the CDI Results did not indicate statistically significant differences between the Total CDI score for the ASD group and the NASD group. However, results did indicate that children in the NASD group consistently received higher T- Scores across scales on the CDI, indicating that they are more likely to report their depressive symptoms then children with ASD. Results also indicate that parents of ASD children consistently reported more symptoms of depression on the CBCL than the NASD parents. These results may indicate that children with ASD have a more difficult time identifying their emotions on self-report measures. Future research should include a larger sample size and the use of INTRODUCTION PURPOSE PARTICIPANTS / METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSIONS/FUTURE RESEARCH Self-report of Co-morbid Depression in Autism Spectrum Disorders Lindsy Yarger, M.A., Julie Knapp, Ph.D., and Joseph McAllister, Jr. Ph.D. The purpose of the research is to study the ability of children with autism to recognize their own internal state of depression. This study attempted to determine differences in self-report depressive symptoms in Autism Spectrum and Non-Autism Spectrum groups who were independently diagnosed with HYPOTHESES • Children in the ASD group will have a lower Total CDI score than the control group • Parents in the ASD group will report more symptoms of depression than their children ASD NASD p Value CDI Total 56.2 62.1 .25 Negative Mood 59.3 60.7 .37 Interpersonal/ Prob 54.0 58.4 .064 Ineffectiveness 53.0 63.4 .20 Anhedonia 56.8 59.8 .40 Negative Self Esteem 54.2 58.4 .66 Group Differences on CDI Mean scores ASD NASD P Value CBCL Anxious Depressed 69.8 62.1 .41 CBCL Withdrawn/Depressed 71.4 57.9 .09 CBCL Affective 71.2 67.9 .65 Group Differences on CBCL Mean Scores Subject Group (ASD) • Children between the ages of 6 and 17 who had been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and Depression. N=13 Control Group (NASD) • Children between the ages of 6 and 17 that have not been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder but have been diagnosed with Depression. N=8 Assessment Measures • Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) • Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 C DITotal Negative M ood Interpersonal Problems Ineffectiveness Anhedonia Negative Self- Esteem C DI Scales T-Scores ASD NASD

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The Watson Institute

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorders are at greater risk for developing depression when compared to children without an autism spectrum disorder (Barnhill, 2001; Ghaziuddin et al., 1998; Tantam, 1991). Research indicates as many as 38% of children with autism spectrum disorders also suffer from depression (Stewart et al., 2006; Lainhart, 1999). As children with autism spectrum disorders have difficulty identifying and expressing their emotions, they may not be able to accurately label and interpret their feelings on standardized measures. Therefore, clinicians should be guarded when using psychological instruments that require the child to self-identify their depressive symptomatology as a means of diagnosing co-morbid depression. Instead they should consider alternative sources for diagnosing depression.

Increase the sample size Use the parent version of the CDI

Results did not indicate statistically significant differences between the Total CDI score for the ASD group and the NASD group. However, results did indicate that children in the NASD group consistently received higher T-Scores across scales on the CDI, indicating that they are more likely to report their depressive symptoms then children with ASD. Results also indicate that parents of ASD children consistently reported more symptoms of depression on the CBCL than the NASD parents. These results may indicate that children with ASD have a more difficult time identifying their emotions on self-report measures. Future research should include a larger sample size and the use of the Parent CDI to measure depression rather than the CBCL.

INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE

PARTICIPANTS / METHODS RESULTS

CONCLUSIONS/FUTURE RESEARCH

Self-report of Co-morbid Depression in Autism Spectrum DisordersLindsy Yarger, M.A., Julie Knapp, Ph.D., and Joseph McAllister, Jr. Ph.D.

The purpose of the research is to study the ability of children with autism to recognize their own internal state of depression. This study attempted to determine differences in self-report depressive symptoms in Autism Spectrum and Non-Autism Spectrum groups who were independently diagnosed with depression.

HYPOTHESES

• Children in the ASD group will have a lower Total CDI score than the control group • Parents in the ASD group will report more symptoms of depression than their children

ASD NASD p Value CDI Total 56.2 62.1 .25Negative Mood 59.3 60.7 .37Interpersonal/Prob 54.0 58.4 .064Ineffectiveness 53.0 63.4 .20Anhedonia 56.8 59.8 .40Negative Self Esteem 54.2 58.4 .66

Group Differences on CDI Mean scores

ASD NASD P Value

CBCL Anxious Depressed 69.8 62.1 .41

CBCL Withdrawn/Depressed 71.4 57.9 .09

CBCL Affective 71.2 67.9 .65

Group Differences on CBCL Mean Scores

Subject Group (ASD) • Children between the ages of 6 and 17 who had been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and Depression. N=13Control Group (NASD) • Children between the ages of 6 and 17 that have not been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder but have been diagnosed with Depression. N=8Assessment Measures• Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) • Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)

CDI Total Negativ e Mood InterpersonalProblems

Ineffectiv eness Anhedonia Negativ e Self-Esteem

CDI Scales

T-Sc

ores

ASD

NASD