Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adult Outpatient Psychiatry

Nyrenius, Johan; Eberhard, Jonas; Ghaziuddin, Mohammad; Gillberg, Christopher; Billstedt, Eva

doi:10.1007/s10803-021-05411-z

Cited by 25 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…27,28 Two recent meta-analyses on co-occurring mental health disorders (including ADHD) reported higher rates in autistic adults than in the general population, 28,32 which could be a contributing factor to the high prevalence of ASD in adult psychiatric settings. 11 Of other neurodevelopmental disorders co-occurring with ASD, the most common is ADHD. 21,28,31 Tic disorders are also very common (22-50%), as are motor difficulties and speech and language difficulties.…”

Section: Co-occurring Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ‘lost generation’ in adult psychiatry: psychiatric, neurodevelopmental and sociodemographic characteristics of psychiatric patients with autism unrecognised in childhood

et al. 2023

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Background Patients with ‘underlying’ autism spectrum disorder (ASD) constitute a significant minority in adult out-patient psychiatry. Diagnoses of previously unrecognised ASD are increasing in adults. Characteristics of patients with autism within adult out-patient psychiatry have not been sufficiently explored, and there have not been any systematic comparisons of characteristics between patients with and those without autism within adult out-patient psychiatric populations. Aims To examine psychiatrically relevant characteristics in autistic adult psychiatric out-patients, and to compare the characteristics with non-autistic adult psychiatric out-patients. Method We assessed 90 patients who were referred to a Swedish psychiatric out-patient clinic and screened for ASD during 2019–2020. Sixty-three patients met the DSM-5 criteria for ASD or ‘subthreshold’ ASD. The 27 who did not meet the criteria for ASD were used as a comparison group. Assessments were made with structured and well-validated instruments, including parent ratings of developmental history. Results No differences were found between the groups regarding self-reported sociodemographic variables. The ASD group showed a higher number of co-occurring psychiatric disorders than the non-ASD group (t(88) = 5.17, 95% CI 1.29–2.91, d = 1.19). Functional level was lower in the ASD group (t(88) = −2.66, 95% CI −9.46 to −1.27, d = −0.73), and was predicted by the number of co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Conclusions The results underscore the need for thorough assessment of psychiatric disorders in autistic patients in adult psychiatric services. ASD should be considered as a possible ‘underlying’ condition in adult psychiatry, and there is no easy way of ruling out ASD in this population.

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Section: Co-occurring Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ‘lost generation’ in adult psychiatry: psychiatric, neurodevelopmental and sociodemographic characteristics of psychiatric patients with autism unrecognised in childhood

et al. 2023

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“…Neurodivergent people experience higher rates of mental ill health than neurotypical people, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and substance misuse (Deberdt et al., 2015; Hossain et al., 2020). A recent Swedish study estimated that 20% of psychiatric outpatients are autistic (Nyrenius et al., 2022), with autistic people less likely to respond to standard treatments than the neurotypical population. As well as mental illness, there is also increasing evidence linking poorly-understood physical health conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome to autism (Grant et al., 2022), as well as exciting research into the association between neurodivergence and hypermobility (Eccles, 2021).…”

Section: Why Is An Awareness Of Neurodiversity Important In General P...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurodiversity in the general practice workforce

Bell

2023

InnovAiT: Education and inspiration for general practice

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Neurodiversity is a term used to describe the variation in how our brains process information and how we experience the world around us. It is estimated that 15–20% of the population are neurodivergent. This includes individuals diagnosed with neurodevelopmental conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism, as well as a range of specific learning differences, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia, and other associated conditions, including epilepsy and Tourette syndrome. As awareness of neurodiversity is increasing, so are the numbers of healthcare workers who are recognising their own neurodivergence. The general practice workforce is no exception.

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“…Further, emerging evidence suggests a significant portion of adults seeking psychiatric care may have undiagnosed autism. A recent study from Sweden found that approximately 19% of adults presenting for outpatient psychiatry services met criteria for an autism diagnosis [ 29 ]. Other studies have found that approximately 16% of adults receiving outpatient psychiatry care for depression in Japan [ 30 ] and up to 10% of adults receiving inpatient psychiatric care for eating disorders meet criteria for an autism diagnosis [ 31 ].…”

Section: Autistic Adults’ Use Of Mental Healthcare Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Five Ways Providers Can Improve Mental Healthcare for Autistic Adults: A Review of Mental Healthcare Use, Barriers to Care, and Evidence-Based Recommendations

Gilmore

Longo

Krantz

et al. 2022

Curr Psychiatry Rep

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Purpose of Review We reviewed the literature from 2017 to 2022 on autistic adults’ use of mental healthcare and barriers to care. To encourage immediate improvement in mental healthcare, we provide five strategies mental health providers can use to better care for autistic adults. Recent Findings Most autistic adults use mental healthcare and use it more often than non-autistic adults. Autistic adults’ experiences with mental healthcare are characterized by (1) lack of providers knowledgeable about autism, (2) use of treatments that may not be accommodating to individual needs, and (3) difficulty navigating the complex healthcare system. These barriers contribute to prevalent unmet needs for mental healthcare. Summary Autistic adults use mental healthcare frequently but have unmet mental health needs. As necessary systemic changes develop, providers can begin immediately to better care for autistic adults by learning about their needs and taking personalized care approaches to meet those needs.

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Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adult Outpatient Psychiatry

Cited by 25 publications

References 38 publications

The ‘lost generation’ in adult psychiatry: psychiatric, neurodevelopmental and sociodemographic characteristics of psychiatric patients with autism unrecognised in childhood

The ‘lost generation’ in adult psychiatry: psychiatric, neurodevelopmental and sociodemographic characteristics of psychiatric patients with autism unrecognised in childhood

Neurodiversity in the general practice workforce

Five Ways Providers Can Improve Mental Healthcare for Autistic Adults: A Review of Mental Healthcare Use, Barriers to Care, and Evidence-Based Recommendations

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