Psychiatric Comorbidities in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Summary
The presence of concurrent psychiatric conditions in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is both common and clinically significant. Anxiety and mood disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive–compulsive disorder, psychotic symptoms and personality disorders frequently co-occur with autistic features, amplifying functional impairment and complicating the diagnostic process. Female autistic adults appear at higher risk of misdiagnosis or delayed identification of their autistic traits, leading to prolonged therapeutic uncertainty. Diverse developmental trajectories of coexisting symptoms can emerge in childhood, adolescence or adulthood, reflecting a complex interplay of genetic predispositions, neurodevelopmental factors and environmental influences. Such comorbidities affect quality of life, exacerbate social and occupational challenges and demand integrated care models that address both core autistic features and associated psychiatric conditions. Recognising and treating these comorbid conditions is essential for refining clinical guidelines, shaping educational and social policies, and improving outcomes on a global scale.
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Psychiatric Comorbidities in Autism Spectrum Disorders publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in psychiatric comorbidities in autism spectrum disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Comorbidity: The co-occurrence of two or more disorders in the same individual.
Misdiagnosis: An incorrect clinical diagnosis that may obscure the true underlying condition.
Trajectory: The pattern of symptom development or change over time.
Polygenic score: A numerical estimate of an individual’s genetic liability to a trait, based on the cumulative effect of multiple genetic variants.
References
- Perceived misdiagnosis of psychiatric conditions in autistic adults. EClinicalMedicine (2024).
- Co‐development of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autistic trait trajectories from childhood to early adulthood. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry (2023).
- Missed diagnoses and misdiagnoses of adults with autism spectrum disorder. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience (2020).
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