- An estimated 40% of those with ASD have a co-occuring anxiety disorder 
- The most common co-occuring anxiety disorders in ASD are social phobia, specific phobias, generalized anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder 
- Anxiety can often exacerbate autistic difficulties in socializing 
- Adapted CBT and social skills training are commonly used to treat anxiety in autistic individuals 

Bowdoin College

Many autistic individuals have at least one other co-occuring psychological condition. Some common co-morbidities of Autism Spectrum Disorder include: 

- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 
- Depression 
- Anxiety Disorders 

Co-occuring Psychological Conditions in Autism Spectrum Disorder 

Zaboski, B. A., & Storch, E. A. (2018). Comorbid autism spectrum disorder and anxiety disorders: a brief review. Future neurology, 13(1), 31–37. https://doi.org/10.2217/fnl-2017-0030 

Comorbid autism spectrum disorder and anxiety disorders: a brief review

- About 12-13% of those diagnosed with ADHD have co-occuring Autism Spectrum Disorder 
- About 40-70% of those diagnosed with autism have co-occuring ADHD and 
- ADHD and ASD are both estimated to be 70-80% genetically-influenced, although research has not yet identified which genes influence the development of ADHD and ASD 
- Social difficulties are commonly associated with ASD, but certain common behaviors in ADHD (getting distracted during conversations, not remembering important dates, having difficulty taking turns) can also indirectly cause difficulty in social settings 
- Both ADHD and ASD are associated with greater rates of executive dysfunction  

Co-occuring ASD and ADHD 

- Estimates on the co-occurence of ASD and OCD are highly variable, with studies finding that anywhere between 2 to 37% of those with ASD also have OCD 
- Both ASD and OCD are characterized by repetitive or ritual behavior, although the psychological motivation behind those behaviors often differs— in OCD, they are tied to specific obsessions, whereas in ASD there is often a less clear motivation for those behaviors 
- Autistic individuals with OCD often respond better to Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Functional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy than to traditional CBT. 

Co-occuring ASD and OCD

- Although estimates on the co-occurence of ASD and depression have varied widely from study to study, most studies have found a statistically-significant correlation between ASD and depressive disorders or depressive symptoms 
- Risk factors for autistic individuals developing depression include age (older adolescents are at higher risk), IQ (individuals with higher IQ are at higher risk), and poor social functioning 
- Currently, a significant amount of research is done on treating depression in allistic (non-autistic) individuals, so treatments for depression may not be as effective for those with ASD 

Learn Before

Related