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Depression Symptoms in Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Comparison Samples

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Abstract

This study compares severity of specific depression symptoms in boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or chronic multiple tic disorder (CMTD) and typically developing boys (Controls). Children were evaluated with parent and teacher versions of the Child Symptom Inventory-4 (CSI-4) and a demographic questionnaire. Mothers’ and teachers’ ratings generally indicated the most severe symptoms in boys with ASD ± ADHD. Associations of depression with ASD severity and IQ varied considerably for specific symptoms of depression, ASD functional domain, and informant. Findings provide additional support for the differential influence of neurobehavioral syndromes on co-occurring symptom severity and illustrate how more fine-grained analyses of clinical phenotypes may contribute to a better understanding of etiology and current nosology.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported, in part, by grants awarded to Dr. Gadow from the Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc., National Institute of Mental Health (MH 45358), and the Matt and Debra Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders. The authors wish to thank Dr. John Pomeroy, Dr. Joyce Sprafkin, and Dr. Jeff Sverd for their respective roles in the diagnostic evaluations and anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-8790, USA

    Kenneth D. Gadow

  2. New School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel

    Sarit Guttmann-Steinmetz

  3. Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Carolien Rieffe

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Carla J. DeVincent

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  1. Kenneth D. Gadow
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  2. Sarit Guttmann-Steinmetz
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  3. Carolien Rieffe
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  4. Carla J. DeVincent
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Correspondence to Kenneth D. Gadow.

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Gadow, K.D., Guttmann-Steinmetz, S., Rieffe, C. et al. Depression Symptoms in Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Comparison Samples. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 1353–1363 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1367-x

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