Mood symptoms in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.
Kids with AS/HFA show depression rates matching clinical MD and worse functioning as symptoms rise—screen mood at every visit.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Mazzone et al. (2013) compared mood symptoms in three groups of youth: kids with Asperger’s or high-functioning autism, kids with major depression, and typically developing peers.
They used rating scales and interviews to count depressive symptoms and to see how well each child functioned at home, at school, and with friends.
What they found
Youth with AS/HFA carried just as many depressive symptoms as youth already diagnosed with major depression.
More symptoms meant lower global functioning scores, even when IQ was average or above.
How this fits with other research
Mulder et al. (2020) widened the lens: in a large survey, one in three youth with ASD had a mental health crisis within three months. Younger kids ran or self-injured; older kids became aggressive.
Myers et al. (2018) and Austin et al. (2015) add a twist: poor executive function—like weak planning and emotional control—also predicts both depression and widening adaptive gaps. Luigi’s mood link and these EF studies fit like puzzle pieces; mood and executive skills may drag functioning down together.
Ganz et al. (2009) foreshadowed this: they showed that a gloomy, withdrawn temperament in HFA teens already forecast worse daily skills, paving the way for Luigi’s 2013 depression numbers.
Why it matters
If you serve autistic clients, screen for mood at every visit—yes, even the bright, verbal ones. A quick checklist can catch the same level of depression seen in kids already in treatment for major depression. Pair that screen with questions about planning, emotional control, and adaptive skills. When symptoms show up, add mood goals to the behavior plan and consider executive-function supports; both moves can protect the client’s day-to-day functioning.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Add a two-minute mood checklist to your intake and review it before writing new behavior plans.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
Asperger Syndrome (AS) and High Functioning Autism (HFA) are psychiatric conditions belonging to the Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), characterized by social dysfunction and focused interest, in the absence of mental retardation. Previous reports suggest that AS/HFA may be associated with important psychiatric comorbidities. Among the psychiatric internalizing disorders, depression and anxiety are probably the most common disorders. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of mood disorders and identifying peculiar clinical features in subjects suffering from AS and HFA. 30 male patients with AS/HFA, 30 male patients affected by Major Depression (MD) and 35 male Typically Developing (TD) comparison were assessed with the CDI and the CDRS-R. Participants' parents were invited to complete the CBCL and the P-YMRS. Moreover, the CGAS was rated by the clinicians. The evaluation of depressive symptoms showed that AS/HFA group reported higher depressive symptoms, as showed by CDI total, CBCL internalizing and CDRS-R total, compared to the TD group. No significant difference of depressive symptoms was found between the AS/HFA and the MD group, with the exception of CDRS-R total score. Moreover, linear regression analysis in the AS/HFA group between CGAS and depressive symptoms revealed that a higher level of depressive symptoms increased the risk of poorer global functioning. These results suggest that the depressive symptoms in AS/HFA patients may be associated with poorer global functioning, with a consequent impairment in their psychological profile and social adjustment, and should alert clinicians to the importance of assessing mood disorders in order to choose the appropriate treatment.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2013 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2013.07.034