Abstract
Exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs), and trauma related diagnoses are poorly understood in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and developmental disabilities (DD). The current study examined N = 7695 cases seen by a community mental health provider to compare exposure to PTEs and trauma-related diagnoses between children with ASD, children with DD, and children with other mental health diagnoses (e.g., depression). Predictors included demographics, exposure to negative life events, living situations, and subscales of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). Logistic regressions showed that diagnostic group, number and type of negative life events and locations lived, and SDQ subscale scores predicted trauma reports and trauma diagnoses. The findings suggest screener questions that may be useful across diagnostic groups.
Highlights
It is unclear what types of negative life experiences and other demographic factors might be significant for detecting trauma and trauma-related disorders in populations being served within community mental health settings
Trauma Exposure children with diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or developmental disabilities (DD) when controlling for the predictors in the model
Negative Life Events (NLEs), including quantitative NLE’s such as the number of living situations, and the number of negative life events, as well as key categories of NLEs, namely legal issues, family conflict, custody and family conflicts, divorce/separations, family mental health issues, and deaths were predictive of trauma report and trauma related diagnoses across groups compared in the study
Summary
Some research suggests children with special needs identified by diagnostic categories such as ASD or DD, or by special education service categories may experience trauma at an alarmingly higher rate than their same age peers (Berg et al 2016; Brenner et al 2018; Hall-Lande et al 2015; Mandell et al 2005; Sullivan and Knutson 2000). Changes to the PTSD criteria involved adding three new symptoms, revising some symptoms to clarify expression, creating a separate diagnostic category for children younger than 6 years, and removing the criteria that the individual had to have experienced immediate intense fear, helplessness, or horror after exposure to trauma (American Psychiatric Association 2013) These changes necessitate a re-examination of trauma prevalence and trauma-related disorders in the ASD group as compared to children with a clinical diagnosis of DD and those with other mental health diagnoses, such as depression and anxiety. As much of the empirical evidence has only examined PTSD in relation to disabilities, an examination of other stressor and trauma-related disorders as detailed in the DSM-5, such as Reactive Attachment, Acute Stress, Disinhibited Social Engagement, and Adjustment Disorders, are needed
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