scholarly journals A Longitudinal Study of the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents with Autism and their Parents during COVID-19: Part 2, Qualitative Findings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Asbury ◽  
Umar Toseeb
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Special Educational Needs ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Health Experiences

In Part 1 of this United Kingdom based study (Toseeb & Asbury, 2021), across four timepoints between March and October 2020, children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) showed higher levels of parent-reported depression and anxiety symptoms than those with other Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SENDs). Here, we used qualitative data from 517 parents/carers of young people with ASD and other SENDs to conduct a longitudinal qualitative content analysis examining stability and change in the mental health of these young people, and their parents/carers, during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Worry and psychological distress were dominant categories at all timepoints and we noted that, in line with quantitative findings, worry in CYP with ASD stayed stable over time but decreased for those with other SENDs. The third dominant category was wellbeing and we saw evidence that removing demands, especially the demand to attend school, was a driver of wellbeing for a significant minority of pupils, particularly those with ASD, and their parents/carers. Overall, we observed no differences in mental health experiences between the two groups of parents, also mirroring quantitative findings.

scholarly journals A Longitudinal Study of the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents with Autism and their Parents during COVID-19: Part 1, Quantitative Findings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umar Toseeb ◽  
Kathryn Asbury
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Special Educational Needs ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Vulnerable Families ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Anxiety Levels

Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents are likely to have been disproportionally affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been little focus on how the mental health of these vulnerable families developed during the pandemic and how it compared to those with other special educational needs and disabilities (SENDs). Questionnaires were completed by 527 parents/carers about their own and their child’s mental health at one or more time points between 23rd March 2020 (at the onset of the first lockdown) and 10th October 2020 (when schools fully reopened for face-to-face teaching). Multi-level regression models were fitted to the data. Young people with ASD had more depression and anxiety symptoms compared to those with other SENDs throughout the study period. As lockdown progressed and schools subsequently re-opened for face-to-face teaching anxiety levels decreased for young people with SENDs but not for those with ASD, whose anxiety remained stable throughout. Depression symptoms, however, remained stable for both groups during this period as did parents/carers’ psychological distress and wellbeing. These findings shed new light on the disproportionate effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety levels in young people with ASD.

scholarly journals Development and Psychometric Properties of a New Questionnaire to Assess Mental Health and Concerning Behaviors in Children and Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): The Assessment of Concerning Behavior (ACB) Scale

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Tarver ◽  
Silia Vitoratou ◽  
Mathilde Mastroianni ◽  
Natalie Heaney ◽  
Eleanor Bennett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Risky Behaviors ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Autistic Children ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Autistic People ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

Abstract Although 70% of autistic children and young people meet criteria for co-occurring psychiatric conditions, there are few screening measures specifically for autistic individuals. We describe the development and validation of the Assessment of Concerning Behavior (ACB), an instrument co-developed with the autistic community to assess mental health and problematic/risky behaviors. Items include descriptions to facilitate symptom recognition by autistic people, and carers/professionals. The ACB was completed by 255 parents, 149 autistic children and young people and 30 teachers. Internal consistency, stability and validity was assessed. The ACB parent-version fit a two-factor model (internalizing and externalizing problems) and showed adequate test–retest reliability, internal consistency and construct validity. The ACB is a promising new measure for research and clinical use in autism.

scholarly journals Autism spectrum disorder/Takiwātanga: An Integrated Data Infrastructure-based approach to autism spectrum disorder research in New Zealand

Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 2213-2227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Bowden ◽  
Hiran Thabrew ◽  
Jesse Kokaua ◽  
Richard Audas ◽  
Barry Milne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Young People ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
National Registry ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Data Infrastructure

New Zealand has few estimates of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder and no national registry. The use of administrative data sources is expanding and could be useful in autism spectrum disorder research. However, the extent to which autism spectrum disorder can be captured in these data sources is unknown. In this study, we utilised three linked administrative health data sources from the Integrated Data Infrastructure to identify cases of autism spectrum disorder among New Zealand children and young people. We then investigated the extent to which a range of mental health, neurodevelopmental and related problems co-occur with autism spectrum disorder. In total, 9555 unique individuals aged 0–24 with autism spectrum disorder were identified. The identification rate for 8-year-olds was 1 in 102. Co-occurring mental health or related problems were noted in 68% of the autism spectrum disorder group. The most common co-occurring conditions were intellectual disability, disruptive behaviours and emotional problems. Although data from the Integrated Data Infrastructure may currently undercount cases of autism spectrum disorder, they could be useful for monitoring service and treatment-related trends, types of co-occurring conditions and for examining social outcomes. With further refinement, the Integrated Data Infrastructure could prove valuable for informing the national incidence and prevalence of autism spectrum disorder and the long-term effectiveness of clinical guidelines and interventions for this group. Lay abstract New Zealand has few estimates of the prevalence autism spectrum disorder and no national registry or data set to identify and track cases. This hinders the ability to make informed, evidence-based decisions relating to autism spectrum disorder. In this study, we utilised linked health and non-health data to develop a method for identifying cases of autism spectrum disorder among children and young people in New Zealand. In addition, we examined rates of co-occurring mental health, neurodevelopmental and related conditions among this cohort and compared these to the general population. The method identified almost 10,000 children and young people with autism spectrum disorder in New Zealand. Co-occurring mental health or related problems were found in over 68% of this group (nearly seven times higher than the general population), and around half were identified with multiple co-occurring conditions. The most frequently identified conditions were intellectual disability, disruptive behaviours and emotional problems. We have developed a useful method for monitoring service and treatment-related trends, number and types of co-occurring conditions and examining social outcomes among individuals with autism spectrum disorder. While the method may underestimate the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in New Zealand, it provides a significant step towards establishing a more comprehensive evidence base to inform autism spectrum disorder–related policy.

Comorbid mental health disorders in children and young people with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 173-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ereny Gobrial
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Young People ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health Disorders ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Purpose Children and young people with comorbid intellectual disabilities (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are more likely to exhibit comorbid mental health disorders (MHD) and other significant behaviours (SB) in addition to the core symptoms of ASD. The purpose of this paper is to identify the prevalence of comorbid MHD and behaviours in children and young people with ID and ASD in Egypt. Design/methodology/approach The Reiss scale for children’s dual diagnosis was administered by parents and teachers of 222 Egyptian children and young people with mild/moderate ID and ASD to screen for MHD and SB. The mean age of children and young people was 12.3 years (SD = 3.64), with 75.6 per cent male. Findings The results revealed that 62.2 per cent of children and young people with ID and ASD had high rates of comorbid MHD and behaviour disorders were shown in 64.4 per cent of the participated children and young people. The results identified anger, anxiety and psychosis being the most frequently diagnosed disorders while crying spells and pica were the most SB. No differences were found between the male and female with ID and ASD in the current study. Research limitations/implications Mental health assessment of children and young people with ID and ASD will help to highlight the needs of these vulnerable children and develop the appropriate services. Originality/value The findings highlight the prevalence of MHD in children and young people with ID and ASD in Egypt. This has implications on the assessment of comorbid disorders and services needed for children with ID and ASD in Egypt.

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