Anxiety in Asperger’s syndrome: Assessment in real time

Abstract

Anxiety is a major problem for many people with Asperger's syndrome who may have qualitatively different fears from a non-Asperger's syndrome population. Research has relied on measures developed for non-Asperger's syndrome populations that require reporting past experiences of anxiety, which may confound assessment in people with Asperger's syndrome due to problems with autobiographical memory as are often reported in this group.Experience sampling methodology was used to record real-time everyday experiences in 20 adults with Asperger's syndrome and 20 neurotypical adults. Within-subject analysis was used to explore the phenomenology of thoughts occurring in people with Asperger's syndrome when they were anxious. Comparisons were made with the group that did not have Asperger's syndrome. The Asperger's syndrome group were significantly more anxious than the comparison group. Factors associated with feelings of anxiety in the Asperger's syndrome group were high levels of self-focus, worries about everyday events and periods of rumination lasting over 10 min. People in the Asperger's syndrome group also had a tendency to think in the image form, but this was not associated with feelings of anxiety. The results are discussed with reference to psychological models of Asperger's syndrome, cognitive models of anxiety and implications for psychological therapy for this group.

High-functioning autism spectrum disorder in adulthood: A systematic review of factors related to psychosocial outcomes

“…Initial disagreement regarding eligibility of 12 studies was resolved through discussion. Specifically, nine studies were included (Gillberg, Helles, Billstedt, & Gillberg, 2015;Gotham, Bishop, Brunwasser, & Lord, 2014;Gotham, Unruh, & Lord, 2014;Hagberg, Billstedt, Nyden, & Gillberg, 2015;Hagberg, Nyden, Cederlund, & Gillberg, 2013;Hare, Wood, Wastell, & Skirrow, 2014; Maddox Running Head: PSYCHOSOCIAL OUTCOMES OF ADULTS WITH ASD were not deemed eligible (Bejerot, Eriksson, & Mortberg, 2014;Gray et al, 2014;Hare, Gracey, & Wood, 2015). Two articles (Gotham, Bishop, et al, 2014;Gotham, Unruh, et al, 2014) employed the same sample, but analysed a different set of variables.…”

“…Appraisals and Coping Skills. Six studies examined the relationship between self-appraisals and coping skills and psychosocial outcomes (Abell & Hare, 2005;Gotham, Bishop, et al, 2014;Hare et al, 2014;Hill et al, 2004;Khanna et al, 2014;Renty & Roeyers, 2006). In a large cross-sectional study (n = 291), Khanna et al (2014) reported that maladaptive coping strategies (i.e., behavioural disengagement, denial, self-blame, self-distraction, substance abuse and venting) were significantly related to poorer physical and mental health-related QoL in adulthood.…”

Child and Adult Factors Related to Quality of Life in Adults with Autism

“…Nevertheless, only a minority of participants was able to self-report, and the impact of some suggested adaptations (to wording, content, mode of presentation, or scoring; cf. Hare et al 2015; Hong et al 2016; Power and Green 2010) to increase participation, remains unknown. Instead, Tavernor et al (2013) recommend the development of a syndrome specific measure of QoL, constructed with the active involvement of individuals with autism and their families.…”

Screening for co‐occurring conditions in adults with autism spectrum disorder using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire: A pilot study

“…The HADS is a commonly used, 14-item self-report screening tool for anxiety and depression. It has demonstrated excellent psychometric properties and is used routinely in clinical and research contexts, including in adult ASD populations [Abell & Hare, 2005;Hare, Wood, Wastell, & Skirrow, 2015;Kanai et al, 2011;Luke, Clare, Ring, Redley, & Watson, 2011].…”