Citation

Settipani CA, Puleo CM, Conner BT, Kendall PC. J. Anxiety Disord. 2012; 26(3): 459-467.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Temple University, 1701 N. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.janxdis.2012.01.010

PMID

22366448

PMCID

PMC3303969

Abstract

There is limited information about the nature of anxiety among youth with symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study examined (a) differences in the clinical characteristics of anxious youth with and without symptoms of ASD and (b) the symptoms of anxiety that best distinguish between these groups. Results indicated that anxious youth with elevated ASD symptoms had significantly more diagnoses (e.g., specific phobias), and were more likely to meet diagnostic criteria for social phobia (and list social concerns among their top fears) than youth without elevated ASD symptoms. At the symptom level, severity of interpersonal worry based on parent report and severity of fear of medical (doctor/dentist) visits based on youth report best differentiated ASD status. The findings inform diagnostic evaluations, case conceptualization, and treatment planning for youth with anxiety disorders and ASD symptoms.

Language: en