nearly half of adults with autism will experience clinical depression in their lifetime , according to our new research published in the journal of abnormal child psychology .
depression can have devastating consequences for individuals with autism, including a loss of previously learned skills , greater difficulty carrying out everyday tasks , and at worst, suicide . people with autism should be regularly screened for depression so that they can access appropriate treatment .
autism is a disorder that involves difficulties with social interactions and restricted repetitive patterns of behaviours . autism also raises risk for severe mental illness.
our study , which involved a systematic review of nearly 8,000 research articles, now reveals clear evidence that depression is highly prevalent in both children and adults with autism. it also reveals that depression is more common in individuals with autism who have higher intelligence.
clinical depression is defined in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders by a longstanding pattern of negative mood.
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in the general population, clinical depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide .
individuals with autism often have trouble identifying and communicating their feelings . clinicians may have to rely on observed behaviour changes , or the reports of others close to the individual to make a diagnosis.
the key difference between these groups is why they experience these problems. people with autism often lack the social skills necessary to engage with others. in contrast, people with depression often withdraw from others because they lose the ability to find pleasure in their social interactions.
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this finding is in contrast to the general population, where lower intelligence is associated with higher rates of depression .
we also learned that how studies assessed depression influenced the rates of depression. rates were highest among studies that used standardized structured interviews to assess depression, compared to studies that used less formal assessment methods.
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this important research will hopefully prompt clinicians to include an assessment of depression in their routine clinical practice with people with autism. this assessment will ensure that people with autism are receiving appropriate treatment.