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The Link Between Autism and Depression

People who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face a lot of challenges in their lives due to their neurodevelopmental disorder. They may struggle with social interactions and communication, for instance.

They may experience difficulties with hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to certain sensory stimuli. And they might be more likely to engage in self-stimulatory behaviors and also have trouble controlling their stims when they feel stressed, anxious or overwhelmed.

At the same time, research has shown that people who are on the autism spectrum are more likely to suffer from depression than their neurotypical counterparts. There are many reasons why this might be, which we’ll discuss in further depth below.

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What is the Link Between Autism and Depression?

A lot of research has shown that people who have autism are significantly more likely to suffer from depression than people who aren’t on the autism spectrum1.

One 2019 study2, for example, found people who have ASD were four times more likely to suffer from depression than people who aren’t on the autism spectrum.

Even more concerning is that studies have shown that roughly 40% of adults with autism reported that they’ve had depression at one point in their life3. In addition, 8% of adolescents and children who have autism also reported facing depression.

At one point, researchers believed that it was possible that people with autism experienced depression at such high rates because they have similar traits. People who have autism and people who are depressed, for instance, both can face challenges with concentration, have not much interest in being social, have trouble sleeping, and have neutral tone of voice and facial expressions.

These overlapping symptoms by themselves, though, don’t completely explain why people with autism so commonly suffer from depression.

What Contributes to Depression for People Who Have ASD?

There isn’t just one single reason why people who have ASD suffer from depression. Indeed, there are multiple factors that could contribute to it.

The discrimination that people on the autism spectrum face is one likely reason. People who have autism are more frequently outcast by their peers and face bullying.

Both of these things can lead to people feeling alone, which can lead to other mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Even though autism has come a long way from a social acceptance standpoint, many people with ASD still face discrimination.

Another potential reason for the link between autism and depression are certain features could increase a person’s risk of facing depression. One study conducted in 2020 found that adults who suffer from depression and adults with ASD both exhibit attentional biases that are similar4.

This refers to a person’s tendency to focus on some things while ignoring other things. The study showed that those two groups of people each exhibited attentional biases toward material that included negative emotions.

A third reason could be the tendency for people who have autism to engage in repetitive actions and/or thoughts. This could result in people with ASD focusing on certain negative ideas and emotions, and ruminating on them, which can result in depression.

Finally, the fact that many people with ASD have alexithymia — characterized by challenges identifying and then describing one’s emotions — could be another reason.

A key factor in avoiding depression is talking to other people and explaining how you feel so that you can get the help and support you need. If someone with ASD has trouble communicating this, though, it can be easy to see how they might become depressed over time.

What Can Be Done About Autism and Depression?

Luckily, many of the factors that play a role in the link between autism and depression can be addressed by purposeful and well-thought-out treatment plans such as applied behavioral analysis.

Also known as ABA therapy, this is the gold standard of treatment for people with autism. It is based on science and evidence that shows the beneficial effects that positive reinforcement and repetition can have on a person’s ability to learn and build their social, communication and daily life skills.

ABA therapists work one-on-one with all patients, developing personalized treatment plans that are catered specifically to each individual’s unique strengths and weaknesses.

In doing so, they can help individuals with autism learn how to communicate their wants and needs, identify and understand their emotions, and so much more — all of which can have a positive effect on the likelihood that they will develop depression.

Trust Blue Gems ABA with Your Child’s Treatment Plan

People with autism face many challenges in life. Unfortunately, many of these challenges make people on the autism spectrum more susceptible to suffering from depression.

But, there’s much that can be done to help support people with ASD in this way.

At Blue Gems ABA, our team of experienced BCBAs help patients everyday build the social, communication and daily life skills with which they often struggle. This helps them live healthier and more fulfilling lives that can also be much happier.

To learn more, please contact us today.

References

  1. https://www.healthline.com/health/autism/autism-and-depression
  2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6512853/#:~:text=Depression%20is%20a%20commonly%20co,%25%20in%20adults%20with%20ASD).
  3. https://www.healthline.com/health/autism/autism-and-depression#is-depression-more-common-in-autistic-people
  4. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6286233/