Levels of anxiety and sources of stress in adults with autism

Abstract

Clinical reports suggest that anxiety is a pertinent issue for adults with autism. We compared 34 adults with autism with 20 adults with intellectual disabilities, utilizing informant-based measures of anxiety and stress. Groups were matched by age, gender and intellectual ability. Adults with autism were almost three times more anxious than the comparison group and gained significantly higher scores on the anxiety subscales of panic and agoraphobia, separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. In terms of sources of stress, significant differences between the two groups were also found, and stress was found to correlate with high anxiety levels for the autism group, particularly the ability to cope with change, anticipation, sensory stimuli and unpleasant events. That is, the more anxious the individual with autism, the less likely they were able to cope with these demands. This has important implications for clinicians in terms of both assessment and treatment.

The cyclic AMP phenotype of fragile X and autism

“…Autism is a behaviorally defined neurodevelopmental disorder with a characteristic triad of deficient diagnostic domains: social, behavioral, and communicative (Rapin 1997). Anxiety-related social behavior and memory deficits are reported in both the autism (Williams, Goldstein et al 2006;Gillott and Standen 2007) and FX behavioral phenotypes (Cornish, Munir et al 2001;. Signaling deficiencies in mGluR and cyclic AMP (cAMP) mediated mechanisms are central to FX pathophysiology (Berry-Kravis 1990;Berry-Kravis, Hicar et al 1995;Miyashiro and Eberwine 2004).…”

The Relationship Between Autism Symptomatology, Performance, Experienced Problems, and Benefits in Problem-Based Learning Curricula

“…This does, however, not mean that the reported experience of more problems and fewer benefits is not a matter of concern. As stated before, people with ASD generally experience more stress, depression, and anxiety than TD individuals (Ghaziuddin et al 2002;Gillott and Standen 2007;Kim et al 2000;Sterling et al 2008). These feelings that are evoked by e.g.…”

“…This, in turn, causes frustration and feelings of injustice. Other emotional problems present in ASD are high levels of stress, depression, and anxiety (Ghaziuddin et al 2002;Gillott and Standen 2007;Kim et al 2000;Sterling et al 2008). Transitioning from secondary education to university brings about stress and anxiety in students with ASD (PinderAmaker 2014), and teachers report that activities such as group work appear to increase anxiety in these students, which has a negative effect on symptom severity and well-being (Gobbo and Shmulsky 2014).…”

Catatonia: The Ultimate yet Treatable Motor Reaction to Fear in Autism

“…In a study of autistic adults [63], levels of anxiety, as assessed by caregivers, were threefold higher than in a comparison group of individuals with intellectual disabilities. In the autistic group, levels of anxiety correlated with levels of stress.…”

“…Robin Allott [62] Autistic people may be particularly vulnerable to intense fear [63,64] due to deficits in communication and social skills, low cognitive abilities, and heightened sensory sensitivity. In a study of autistic adults [63], levels of anxiety, as assessed by caregivers, were threefold higher than in a comparison group of individuals with intellectual disabilities.…”