A systematic review of the rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents without intellectual disability

Tracy M. Stewart; Katherine Martin; Michela Fazi; Jessica Oldridge; Allan Piper; Sinead M. Rhodes

doi:10.1111/papt.12366

A systematic review of the rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents without intellectual disability

Tracy M. Stewart^*, Katherine Martin, Michela Fazi, Jessica Oldridge, Allan Piper, Sinead M. Rhodes

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Objectives

Increasing evidence suggests that major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study is a systematic review of rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents, without intellectual disability.

Design

Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a total of 14,557 studies were identified through five databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cinahl, ERIC, PsycINFO, and Web of Science).

Methods

Articles were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria and 10% double coded at each stage. Nineteen studies met criteria and were retained in the review.

Result

The reported rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents varied from 0% to 83.3%. We discuss these findings in relation to method of report (self/informant, interview/questionnaire), recruitment status (clinical/community recruited), and age (pre-pubertal/adolescent).

Conclusion

Rates of depression vary considerably across studies and do not show a particular pattern in relation to methodology, or age. Our research joins a crucial call to action from the research community for future research to improve the identification of depression in autism, which in turn will aid our understanding of the potentially different characterization and manifestation of depression in autism, to ultimately improve assessment and treatment of depression in autistic children and adolescents.

Practitioner points

- Rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents vary and do not show a particular pattern in relation to methodology or age.

- Our research joins the call to action from the research community for future research to improve the identification of depression in autistic children and adolescents, which in turn will aid understanding of depression in autism, and ultimately improve assessment and treatment of depression in autistic children and young people.

- The development of new measures of depression, specifically designed with, and for, children and adolescents with autism, is warranted.

Original language	English
Journal	Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice
Early online date	3 Oct 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12366
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 3 Oct 2021

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

autism spectrum disorder
children and adolescents
co-occurrence
depression

Access to Document

10.1111/papt.12366

StewartEtalPPTRP2021ASystematicReview
Stewart, T.M., Martin, K., Fazi, M., Oldridge, J., Piper, A. and Rhodes, S.M. (2021), A systematic review of the rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents without intellectual disability. Psychol Psychother Theory Res Pract., which has been published in final form at https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/papt.12366. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.
Accepted author manuscript, 403 KB

Cite this

@article{cbf7ed7f2e964ba6b8caa651b00bfffb,

title = "A systematic review of the rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents without intellectual disability",

abstract = "ObjectivesIncreasing evidence suggests that major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study is a systematic review of rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents, without intellectual disability. DesignAdhering to PRISMA guidelines, a total of 14,557 studies were identified through five databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cinahl, ERIC, PsycINFO, and Web of Science). Methods Articles were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria and 10% double coded at each stage. Nineteen studies met criteria and were retained in the review. ResultThe reported rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents varied from 0% to 83.3%. We discuss these findings in relation to method of report (self/informant, interview/questionnaire), recruitment status (clinical/community recruited), and age (pre-pubertal/adolescent). ConclusionRates of depression vary considerably across studies and do not show a particular pattern in relation to methodology, or age. Our research joins a crucial call to action from the research community for future research to improve the identification of depression in autism, which in turn will aid our understanding of the potentially different characterization and manifestation of depression in autism, to ultimately improve assessment and treatment of depression in autistic children and adolescents. Practitioner points- Rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents vary and do not show a particular pattern in relation to methodology or age. - Our research joins the call to action from the research community for future research to improve the identification of depression in autistic children and adolescents, which in turn will aid understanding of depression in autism, and ultimately improve assessment and treatment of depression in autistic children and young people. - The development of new measures of depression, specifically designed with, and for, children and adolescents with autism, is warranted.",

keywords = "autism spectrum disorder, children and adolescents, co-occurrence, depression",

author = "Stewart, {Tracy M.} and Katherine Martin and Michela Fazi and Jessica Oldridge and Allan Piper and Rhodes, {Sinead M.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was funded by the Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, and Erasmus. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The British Psychological Society",

year = "2021",

month = oct,

day = "3",

doi = "10.1111/papt.12366",

language = "English",

journal = "Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice",

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T1 - A systematic review of the rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents without intellectual disability

AU - Stewart, Tracy M.

AU - Martin, Katherine

AU - Fazi, Michela

AU - Oldridge, Jessica

AU - Piper, Allan

AU - Rhodes, Sinead M.

PY - 2021/10/3

Y1 - 2021/10/3

N2 - ObjectivesIncreasing evidence suggests that major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study is a systematic review of rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents, without intellectual disability. DesignAdhering to PRISMA guidelines, a total of 14,557 studies were identified through five databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cinahl, ERIC, PsycINFO, and Web of Science). Methods Articles were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria and 10% double coded at each stage. Nineteen studies met criteria and were retained in the review. ResultThe reported rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents varied from 0% to 83.3%. We discuss these findings in relation to method of report (self/informant, interview/questionnaire), recruitment status (clinical/community recruited), and age (pre-pubertal/adolescent). ConclusionRates of depression vary considerably across studies and do not show a particular pattern in relation to methodology, or age. Our research joins a crucial call to action from the research community for future research to improve the identification of depression in autism, which in turn will aid our understanding of the potentially different characterization and manifestation of depression in autism, to ultimately improve assessment and treatment of depression in autistic children and adolescents. Practitioner points- Rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents vary and do not show a particular pattern in relation to methodology or age. - Our research joins the call to action from the research community for future research to improve the identification of depression in autistic children and adolescents, which in turn will aid understanding of depression in autism, and ultimately improve assessment and treatment of depression in autistic children and young people. - The development of new measures of depression, specifically designed with, and for, children and adolescents with autism, is warranted.

AB - ObjectivesIncreasing evidence suggests that major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study is a systematic review of rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents, without intellectual disability. DesignAdhering to PRISMA guidelines, a total of 14,557 studies were identified through five databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cinahl, ERIC, PsycINFO, and Web of Science). Methods Articles were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria and 10% double coded at each stage. Nineteen studies met criteria and were retained in the review. ResultThe reported rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents varied from 0% to 83.3%. We discuss these findings in relation to method of report (self/informant, interview/questionnaire), recruitment status (clinical/community recruited), and age (pre-pubertal/adolescent). ConclusionRates of depression vary considerably across studies and do not show a particular pattern in relation to methodology, or age. Our research joins a crucial call to action from the research community for future research to improve the identification of depression in autism, which in turn will aid our understanding of the potentially different characterization and manifestation of depression in autism, to ultimately improve assessment and treatment of depression in autistic children and adolescents. Practitioner points- Rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents vary and do not show a particular pattern in relation to methodology or age. - Our research joins the call to action from the research community for future research to improve the identification of depression in autistic children and adolescents, which in turn will aid understanding of depression in autism, and ultimately improve assessment and treatment of depression in autistic children and young people. - The development of new measures of depression, specifically designed with, and for, children and adolescents with autism, is warranted.

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KW - children and adolescents

KW - co-occurrence

KW - depression

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U2 - 10.1111/papt.12366

DO - 10.1111/papt.12366

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85116088215

SN - 1476-0835

JO - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

JF - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

ER -

A systematic review of the rates of depression in autistic children and adolescents without intellectual disability

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