Association Between Autism and PTSD Among Adult Psychiatric Outpatients
Agebjörn, Johan ; Gillberg, Christopher ; Eberhard, Jonas LU ; Billstedt, Eva and Nyrenius, Johan LU
(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.
(Less)
- author
- Agebjörn, Johan
; Gillberg, Christopher
; Eberhard, Jonas
LU
; Billstedt, Eva
and Nyrenius, Johan
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- 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}},
}