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Association Between Autism and PTSD Among Adult Psychiatric Outpatients

Agebjörn, Johan ; Gillberg, Christopher ; Eberhard, Jonas LU ; Billstedt, Eva and Nyrenius, Johan LU orcid (2025) In Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 55(9). p.3343-3353
Abstract

Purpose: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) occurs in 1-1.5% of the general population and possibly in up to 20% of psychiatric outpatients. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs at some point in life in 4% of the general population and in 14–20% of psychiatric outpatients. Knowledge about how PTSD manifests in people with ASD is important in order for it to be correctly diagnosed and intervened for. Methods: This study investigated the relationship between PTSD and autism among adult psychiatric outpatients (N = 90) of whom 63 had ASD or subthreshold ASD based on DSM-5 criteria. The study group was subjected to in-depth psychiatric assessments using validated instruments. Diagnosis of PTSD was made based on the Mini International... (More)

Purpose: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) occurs in 1-1.5% of the general population and possibly in up to 20% of psychiatric outpatients. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs at some point in life in 4% of the general population and in 14–20% of psychiatric outpatients. Knowledge about how PTSD manifests in people with ASD is important in order for it to be correctly diagnosed and intervened for. Methods: This study investigated the relationship between PTSD and autism among adult psychiatric outpatients (N = 90) of whom 63 had ASD or subthreshold ASD based on DSM-5 criteria. The study group was subjected to in-depth psychiatric assessments using validated instruments. Diagnosis of PTSD was made based on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Results: There was a trend towards PTSD being more common among participants with ASD compared to participants without ASD, although significant differences could not be shown in this small sample. 21% of the ASD group had current PTSD, compared to 4% of the study group without ASD. There were no differences between the groups regarding exposure to trauma. There was a trend towards a relationship between number of autism symptoms and hyperarousal symptoms in PTSD. Conversely, the PTSD symptom of irritability/outbursts of anger, was significantly associated with number of autism symptoms. Conclusions: A subgroup of psychiatric outpatients with ASD also suffer from PTSD. Hyperarousal symptoms are possibly more prevalent in the presentation of PTSD in individuals/patients with ASD compared to those without ASD.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Adults, Autism, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Psychiatry, PTSD
in
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
volume
55
issue
9
pages
3343 - 3353
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85196836196
  • pmid:38916696
ISSN
0162-3257
DOI
10.1007/s10803-024-06439-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
efc54fbb-eb2f-4484-a731-43b84d5e60c0
date added to LUP
2024-09-03 11:47:36
date last changed
2025-10-16 02:08:14
@article{efc54fbb-eb2f-4484-a731-43b84d5e60c0,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) occurs in 1-1.5% of the general population and possibly in up to 20% of psychiatric outpatients. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs at some point in life in 4% of the general population and in 14–20% of psychiatric outpatients. Knowledge about how PTSD manifests in people with ASD is important in order for it to be correctly diagnosed and intervened for. Methods: This study investigated the relationship between PTSD and autism among adult psychiatric outpatients (N = 90) of whom 63 had ASD or subthreshold ASD based on DSM-5 criteria. The study group was subjected to in-depth psychiatric assessments using validated instruments. Diagnosis of PTSD was made based on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Results: There was a trend towards PTSD being more common among participants with ASD compared to participants without ASD, although significant differences could not be shown in this small sample. 21% of the ASD group had current PTSD, compared to 4% of the study group without ASD. There were no differences between the groups regarding exposure to trauma. There was a trend towards a relationship between number of autism symptoms and hyperarousal symptoms in PTSD. Conversely, the PTSD symptom of irritability/outbursts of anger, was significantly associated with number of autism symptoms. Conclusions: A subgroup of psychiatric outpatients with ASD also suffer from PTSD. Hyperarousal symptoms are possibly more prevalent in the presentation of PTSD in individuals/patients with ASD compared to those without ASD.</p>}},
  author       = {{Agebjörn, Johan and Gillberg, Christopher and Eberhard, Jonas and Billstedt, Eva and Nyrenius, Johan}},
  issn         = {{0162-3257}},
  keywords     = {{Adults; Autism; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Psychiatry; PTSD}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{3343--3353}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders}},
  title        = {{Association Between Autism and PTSD Among Adult Psychiatric Outpatients}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06439-7}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10803-024-06439-7}},
  volume       = {{55}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}