How are Sensory Features associated with seven anxiety disorders in boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Vicki Bitsika; Christopher F Sharpley; Richard Mills

doi:10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2016.03.005

How are Sensory Features associated with seven anxiety disorders in boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Int J Dev Neurosci. 2016 May:50:47-54. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2016.03.005. Epub 2016 Mar 11.

Authors

Vicki Bitsika¹, Christopher F Sharpley², Richard Mills³

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Bond University, University Drive, Robina, Queensland 4229, Australia.
² Brain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Armidale 2351, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: csharpl3@une.edu.au.
³ Centre for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Bond University, University Drive, Robina, Queensland 4229, Australia; Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.

PMID: 26975191
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2016.03.005

Abstract

The association between Sensory Features (SF) and seven anxiety disorders was investigated using self-reports and parental reports about 140 young males with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Although there were significant correlations between SF and self- and parent-ratings of some of the seven anxiety disorders, overall, SF was found to have an inconsistent association across the seven anxiety disorders and this was also found for the 8 symptoms of Generalised Anxiety Disorder. These data challenge the practice of assessing SF and anxiety via global measures and argue for individualized disorder-specific assessments to develop more effective diagnoses and treatments for the effects of SF.

Keywords: ASD; Anxiety; Children; Parents; Sensory Features.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Anxiety Disorders / etiology*
Autism Spectrum Disorder / complications*
Child
Humans
Male
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Self Report
Sensation Disorders / etiology*
Severity of Illness Index