Have we made Progress in Diagnosing Mental Illness in People with Autism?

Samira Hayes

doi:10.4172/2165-7890.1000e110

Abstract

Have we made Progress in Diagnosing Mental Illness in People with Autism?

Highlights

There is a considerable overlap between core symptoms of Autism and psychiatric disorders with similar behavioural indicators observed in both
There is growing evidence that the presentation of psychopathology in people with Autism may present in an atypical manner compared with the general population this appears to correlate with the level of cognitive ability
Diagnosing mental illnesses (MI) in individuals with Autism poses many complex challenges and at present there is a) no consensus on the best way to assess psychopathology in adults with Autism and b) no consensus about the cut-off points for when symptoms should be considered to be a MI as opposed to being related to Autism

Summary

Open Access

Samira Hayes* Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service, Dochas House, Tralee, Ireland. It is generally accepted that people with Autism, just like their nonAutistic counterparts, experience the full range of mental illnesses (MI) and increased awareness has led to an increase in the dual diagnosis of Autism and MI by clinicians. Individuals with Autism are reported to experience higher rates of MI than the general population with some studies reporting co-morbidity of 65-80%, with increased vulnerability associated with individuals who have lower levels of cognitive ability. Thanks to carer and self-report we are aware of the many predisposing factors and potential negative life events experienced by individuals with Autism that can increase their risk of developing a MI including: genetic and biological factors; health problems; communication difficulties; poor coping ability; social isolation and loneliness caused by social rejection, and low self-esteem (related to teasing or bullying). What have been the main challenges for diagnosticians accounting for such discrepancies and have we made progress in overcoming them?

What have been the challenges?

Overlap of Symptoms

Idiosyncratic or atypical symptoms of Psychiatric Disorders

Impaired Communication

Limited Standardized Measures

Conclusion