PMID: 32150706Mar 10, 2020Paper

Autism, depression and risk of suicide

Medicina
Víctor Ruggieri

Abstract

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a qualitative alteration in social interaction and communication, associated with restricted interests and stereotyped behaviors. People with autism are four times more likely to develop depression, than the general population, it is even considered as the most common mental health condition in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). One of the challenges is to recognize the manifestations related to depression in people with ASD, in whom, in general, it is expressed differently in relation to those with typical development. Depression in people with autism can manifest itself with restlessness and insomnia and not with feelings of sadness, so it is essential to be attentive and not justify all behavioral problems to autism. Young adults with ASD have higher baseline levels of almost all the depression characteristics listed in the DSM-5, which can lead to overdiagnosis or underreporting of depression. On the other hand, adults with autism have an increased risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts, planning suicide, carrying it out and even dying from suicide. Many of them have a history of depression, harassment and loneliness. It is essential the early detection of d...Continue Reading

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