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Exploring Key Physiological System Profiles at Rest and the Association with Depressive Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

Depression is often associated with dysfunction in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and autonomic nervous system (ANS). Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may experience physiological dysregulation and psychological comorbidities; however, the extent to which the interactions between these systems predict internalizing symptoms in ASD has not been investigated. The study examined interactions with the HPA axis and ANS in 10–13-year-old children with ASD (n = 41) and typical development (TD; n = 46). The interrelated systems uniquely contributed to depressive symptoms in ASD above and beyond any system in isolation. A reciprocal, parasympathetic-dominant ANS was related to fewer affective symptoms in ASD. Findings highlight the importance of examining arousal across multiple systems to more precisely identify profiles associated with maladaptive psychiatric outcomes in ASD.

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Acknowledgment

We are grateful to all the children and families who continue to support our research. These data were completed as part of Rachael A. Muscatello’s doctoral dissertation.

Funding

This study was funded by an Autism Speaks Weatherstone Predoctoral Fellowship (#10616) awarded to Rachael A. Muscatello, and a National Institute of Mental Health R01 (MH111599) awarded to Blythe A. Corbett, Ph.D. Additional core support was provided by the National Center for Advancing Translation Sciences (CTSA UL1 TR000445) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (U54 HD083211, PI: Neul). Cortisol assays were completed by the VUMC Hormone Assay and Analytical Services Core, supported by NIH Grants DK059637 and DK020593.

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Author notes

  1. Justin Andujar

    Present address: Department of Genetic Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Neuroscience Graduate Program, 1500 21st Avenue S., Nashville, TN, 37212, USA

    Rachael A. Muscatello

  2. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

    Justin Andujar

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

    Julie L. Taylor

  4. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Julie L. Taylor & Blythe A. Corbett

  5. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Blythe A. Corbett

  6. Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

    Blythe A. Corbett

Authors
  1. Rachael A. Muscatello
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  2. Justin Andujar
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  3. Julie L. Taylor
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  4. Blythe A. Corbett
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Contributions

RAM contributed to the design of the study, led data acquisition, analyzed physiological data, led statistical analysis and interpretation, and wrote the initial draft of the manuscript. JA contributed to data acquisition, analysis of the physiological data, and helped draft the initial manuscript. JLT contributed to conceptualization of the analytical plan, final statistical analysis, and interpretation of the data. BAC designed the study, oversaw data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation. All authors participated in the preparation and editing of the manuscript and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rachael A. Muscatello.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical stands of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed written consent and assent was obtained from all parents and study participants, respectively, prior to inclusion in the study.

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Muscatello, R.A., Andujar, J., Taylor, J.L. et al. Exploring Key Physiological System Profiles at Rest and the Association with Depressive Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 51, 15–29 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04516-1

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