1 The University of Sydney, Australia.
2 University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia.
Autism. 2019 Oct;23(7):1675-1686. doi: 10.1177/1362361318823925. Epub 2019 Jan 17.
In this study, we consecutively recruited treatment-seeking young autistic adults without intellectual impairment aged 16-30 years who presented to a mental health service and evaluated general health (distress, quality of life, and disability), functioning (work loss days and social functioning), and mood symptoms (depression, anxiety, and stress) in those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder ( = 96). This group was compared to young adults presenting to the same service with primary mental health disorders (depression, = 343; bipolar, = 132; psychosis, = 166; and anxiety, = 303). This study also investigated the influence of mood symptoms on general health and functioning in the autism spectrum disorder group. Young autistic adults reported significant general health and functioning impairments that were of similar degree to those presenting with primary mental health disorders. Interestingly, the autistic group also reported similarly high levels of mood symptoms to those with primary depressive and anxiety disorders. In the autistic group, depressive symptoms were strongly associated with distress, quality of life, and work loss days, while stress symptoms were strongly associated with disability. This study highlights further research, and mental health services are required specifically targeting young autistic adults to address their significant unmet needs.
在这项研究中，我们连续招募了 16-30 岁、无智力障碍、寻求治疗的年轻自闭症成年人，他们到心理健康服务机构就诊，并评估了自闭症谱系障碍患者的一般健康状况（困扰、生活质量和残疾）、功能（丧失工作天数和社交功能）和情绪症状（抑郁、焦虑和压力）（ = 96）。将这群人与到同一服务机构就诊的患有主要精神健康障碍的年轻成年人（抑郁， = 343；双相， = 132；精神病， = 166；焦虑， = 303）进行比较。本研究还调查了情绪症状对自闭症谱系障碍组一般健康和功能的影响。年轻的自闭症成年人报告了明显的一般健康和功能障碍，其严重程度与主要精神健康障碍患者相似。有趣的是，自闭症组的情绪症状水平也与主要抑郁和焦虑障碍患者相似。在自闭症组中，抑郁症状与困扰、生活质量和丧失工作天数密切相关，而压力症状与残疾密切相关。本研究强调需要进一步研究和专门针对年轻自闭症成年人的心理健康服务，以满足他们的重大未满足需求。
