Anxiety
At Least 30% of people with ASD have an Anxiety disorder
- autismspeaks.org Autism's Associated Medical Conditions
- autismspeaks.org Autism's Associated Medical Conditions
The anxiety disorders most commonly associated with ASD are "social phobia, separation anxiety, panic disorder and specific phobias – for instance, of spiders or loud noise," (Treatment for Associated Psychiatric Conditions. (2012, July 24). According to Autism Speaks, anxiety is more common in those with HFA. Anxiety ranges from occasional and mild to severe and ongoing. ASD usually has more anxiety than the average person because social situations and unfamiliar places make them more nervous. They also a have hard time expressing their anxiety verbally making it hard for others to understand (Raising Children Network).
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder
Up to 1/2 of kids with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder have autism
Some reasons Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and ASD are so common together is because research has shown that there are common genetic factors. ADHD can be hard to diagnose because the common symptoms are consistent with ASD, such as "inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity," (Treatment for Associated Psychiatric Conditions. 2012, July 24). If you think someone has both you should get an expert in both disorders. Dr. Mark Bertin explained ADHD as “It is primarily a disorder of self-regulation and executive function – skills that act as the ‘brain manager’ in everyday life." A psychiatrist in Colorado described having ADHD and ASD as "winning the negative genetic lottery," (Is It ADHD or Autism? Or Both? 2017, December 18). The most successful way to make a child's life easier when they have both disorders is to get them on ADHD medication. Getting them on the right medicine can be incredibly difficult, but when you do it can be life changing (When to Call in the Meds. 2018, January 05).
Bipolar Disorder
Up to 27% of those on the autism spectrum have bipolar disorder
- autismspeaks.org Autism's Associated Medical Conditions
- autismspeaks.org Autism's Associated Medical Conditions
Bipolar disorder is when you have uncharacteristically high energy moments and other moments of depression. The high energy moments are called mania. In ASD mania often presents as "abrupt increases in 'pressured speech' (rapid, loud and virtually nonstop talking), pacing, impulsivity, irritability and insomnia," stated by Treatment for Associated Psychiatric Conditions, Autism Speaks. Some people who have bipolar disorder alternate between mania and depression, others only experience mania. Bipolar disorder is about 29% more common in children with ASD than the general population of children (Clinical research: autism, bipolar disorder may often overlap. 2013, September 20). Autism Speaks reported that new studies have shown that people with ASD present symptoms of mania but are not yet diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Some of the symptoms include "elevated mood, very irritable, talked excessively, pacing, accident proneness, and distractibility," (Treatment for Associated Psychiatric Conditions. 2012, July 24).
Deppresion
Around 50% of people diagnosed with ASD will go through depression in there life.
- iancommunity.org Diagnosing Depression in Autism
- iancommunity.org Diagnosing Depression in Autism
Depression feels the same in those with and without ASD. There is a wide range of symptoms and severity. People with ASD typically struggle more with getting help. With ASD it is hard and anxiety provoking to express your emotions. Without expressing emotions it is nearly impossible to get help with depression. ASD also makes it hard to label the emotions you are feeling (Mental Health and autism). The highest risk for depression is HFA. Currently there is no specific reason why, however it may be because the students are often in mainstream classrooms (Diagnosing Depression in Autism. 2016, July 28).
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
At most 33% of those with autism have obsessive compulsive disorder
- autismspeaks.org Autism's Associated Medical Conditions
- autismspeaks.org Autism's Associated Medical Conditions
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a form of anxiety. According to The National Autistic Society, "If someone has OCD, it means that they experience repetitive thoughts and behaviours that are upsetting to them. OCD occurs in about two to three percent of people who are not autistic and is more common in people who are autistic." For someone who lacks knowledge in ASD they may think someone has OCD. This is because the repetitive actions are a common sign of OCD, but are also a calming and comforting thing for patients with ASD (Treatment for Associated Psychiatric Conditions. 2012, July 24). One incredibly beneficial form of treatment is Cognitive Behavior Training (CBT). CBT is used in treating multiple forms of anxiety, it works to change they way you think. There are also medications to help minimize the effects of OCD.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia effects 2% of the ASD population, double the general population
- autismspeaks.org Autism's Associated Medical Conditions
- autismspeaks.org Autism's Associated Medical Conditions
Unlike the majority of psychiatric conditions, schizophrenia is more common in adulthood. Most cases show that symptoms begin near adulthood and rarely occur in children (Treatment for Associated Psychiatric Conditions. 2012, July 24). Some research is conducive to the prenatal risk factors of ASD and Schizophrenia. The risks are, "maternal infection with fever and genetics," stated by Austimspeaks.org. Common symptoms of ASD and schizophrenia are: language problems and interpreting emotions. According to the article Brain Tissue Study Deepens Autism- Schizophrenia Link, published by Scientific American, both brain neurons and 106 expressed genes were found in common with both ASD and schizophrenia.
References:
Clinical research: Autism, bipolar disorder may often overlap. (2013, September 20). Retrieved January 14, 2018, from https://spectrumnews.org/news/clinical-research-autism-bipolar-disorder-may-often-overlap/
DeWeerdt, S. S. (2016, June 06). Brain Tissue Study Deepens Autism–Schizophrenia Link. Retrieved January 14, 2018, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/brain-tissue-study-deepens-autism-schizophrenia-link/
Diagnosing Depression in Autism. (2016, July 28). Retrieved January 16, 2018, from https://iancommunity.org/diagnosing-depression-autism
Is It ADHD or Autism? Or Both? (2017, December 18). Retrieved January 14, 2018, from https://www.additudemag.com/is-it-adhd-or-asd/
Mental Health and autism. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14, 2018, from http://www.autism.org.uk/about/health/mental-health.aspx
Raising Children Network (RCN); jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia; sector=non-government. (n.d.). Anxiety: children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder. Retrieved January 14, 2018, from http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/autism_spectrum_disorder_anxiety.html
Treatment for Associated Psychiatric Conditions. (2012, July 24). Retrieved January 13, 2018, from https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/treatment/treatment-associated-psychiatric-conditions
When to Call in the Meds. (2018, January 05). Retrieved January 14, 2018, from https://www.additudemag.com/autism-medication-treatment-help-parenting/
Clinical research: Autism, bipolar disorder may often overlap. (2013, September 20). Retrieved January 14, 2018, from https://spectrumnews.org/news/clinical-research-autism-bipolar-disorder-may-often-overlap/
DeWeerdt, S. S. (2016, June 06). Brain Tissue Study Deepens Autism–Schizophrenia Link. Retrieved January 14, 2018, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/brain-tissue-study-deepens-autism-schizophrenia-link/
Diagnosing Depression in Autism. (2016, July 28). Retrieved January 16, 2018, from https://iancommunity.org/diagnosing-depression-autism
Is It ADHD or Autism? Or Both? (2017, December 18). Retrieved January 14, 2018, from https://www.additudemag.com/is-it-adhd-or-asd/
Mental Health and autism. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14, 2018, from http://www.autism.org.uk/about/health/mental-health.aspx
Raising Children Network (RCN); jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia; sector=non-government. (n.d.). Anxiety: children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder. Retrieved January 14, 2018, from http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/autism_spectrum_disorder_anxiety.html
Treatment for Associated Psychiatric Conditions. (2012, July 24). Retrieved January 13, 2018, from https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/treatment/treatment-associated-psychiatric-conditions
When to Call in the Meds. (2018, January 05). Retrieved January 14, 2018, from https://www.additudemag.com/autism-medication-treatment-help-parenting/