ERIC Number: EJ1307673
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Oct
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Depression in Independent Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Demographic Characteristics, Service Use, and Barriers
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v25 n7 p1960-1972 Oct 2021
Depression is a common problem for adults on the autism spectrum, but little is known about depression-related service receipt in this group. To understand depression diagnostic and treatment status better, we collected information on current depressive symptoms, depression diagnosis, and treatment status of 315 young adults with a childhood diagnosis of autism from the Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge registry. About two-thirds (65.4%) of the adults had been diagnosed with depression, and 46.7% currently met clinical cut-offs for depression on depressive symptoms measures. Among the currently depressed, the majority (83.0%) had a formal depression diagnosis. Despite being no more likely than males to be currently depressed, females (biological sex) were more likely to have received a depression diagnosis. As for depression treatment, 58.5% of currently depressed adults were currently being treated, and 68% had previously received treatment. Medication was the most common form of treatment, followed by individual therapy. Likelihood of receiving depression treatment was higher among those with a formal depression diagnosis and with higher levels of education. Adults reported several barriers to accessing treatment for depression, including financial and insurance issues, accessibility to appropriate care, and professionals' lack of understanding about depression in autism.
Descriptors: Depression (Psychology), Young Adults, Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Barriers, Individual Characteristics, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Clinical Diagnosis, Gender Differences, Educational Attainment, Costs, Health Insurance, Access to Health Care, Allied Health Personnel, Knowledge Level, Measures (Individuals), Employment Level
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Beck Depression Inventory
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A