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Family Report of ASD Concomitant with Depression or Anxiety Among US Children

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Abstract

The objective is to estimate prevalence of parent-reported depression or anxiety among children with ASD, and describe parental concerns for their children. The design is Analysis of National Survey of Children’s Health, 2003–2004. The participants are a national sample of 102,353 parents. 311,870 (544/100,000) parents of children ages 4–17 in the US reported that their child was diagnosed with autism. 125,809 also reported that their child had depression or anxiety (219/100,000). These parents report substantially higher concerns about their child’s self-esteem, academic success, and potential to be bullied. Clinicians should take into account that children with ASD may face increased risk of depression or anxiety in adolescence. Coordinated care addressing social and emotional health in addition to clinical attention is important in this population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2525 West End Ave., Suite 600, Nashville, TN, 37203-1738, USA

    Melissa L. McPheeters

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Alaina Davis

  3. Adolescent Services, Rolling Hills Hospital, Franklin, TN, USA

    J. Richard Navarre II

  4. Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Theresa A. Scott

Authors
  1. Melissa L. McPheeters
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  2. Alaina Davis
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  3. J. Richard Navarre II
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  4. Theresa A. Scott
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Correspondence to Melissa L. McPheeters.

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McPheeters, M.L., Davis, A., Navarre, J.R. et al. Family Report of ASD Concomitant with Depression or Anxiety Among US Children. J Autism Dev Disord 41, 646–653 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1085-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1085-9

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