Autism Spectrum Disorder and Anxiety Among Transgender Youth: Use of the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ)

Diagnostic assessment of autism spectrum disorder in transgender and gender diverse youth

Objective: Higher prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and associated traits has been observed among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth, and the number of TGD youth requesting evaluation for autism is growing. This study explored the demographic and clinical profiles of TGD youth evaluated in a specialty autism clinic. Method: Retrospective autism evaluation results for 41 TGD youth aged 5-18 years and 67 cisgender-matched controls were included in the study. Results: Approximately, half of TGD youth were diagnosed with autism (TGDASD+; n = 19 vs. TGDASD-; n = 22). There were no group differences in sex assigned at birth, gender identity, FSIQ, race, or ethnicity. Compared to TGDASD- (allistic) youth, TGD autistics had significantly lower adaptive functioning and were more likely to have an IEP eligibility of ASD. Anxiety and mood disorders were more common in TGD youth, whereas language disorders were more prevalent in cisgender controls. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was more common among TGDASD- youth (72%) than TGDASD+ youth (47%), though not significantly. Conclusions: TGD youth with school-based IEP eligibilities of ASD and lower adaptive functioning are more likely to be diagnosed with ASD upon medical evaluation. The combination of identifying as TGD and having ADHD may heighten suspicion for ASD. Asking about gender identity during autism evaluations for children middle school-aged and older is recommended.

Research methods at the intersection of gender diversity and autism: A scoping review

LAY ABSTRACT

Research has increasingly focused on the intersection between gender diversity and autism. To better understand this literature, this scoping review systematically searched five databases for peer-reviewed literature on gender diversity and autism published between 2018 and 2023. Included studies (N = 84) were of English language, featured original qualitative or quantitative findings, and examined a psychosocial connection between autism and gender spectra variables. Most studies focused on measuring prevalence of autism among gender-diverse individuals. While the overall study rigor was acceptable, weaknesses in measurement, sample selection, and definition of key terms were noted. Promisingly, studies in this area appear to be shifting away from a pathologizing lens and towards research methods that engage in meaningful collaboration with the autistic, gender-diverse community to investigate how to best enhance the quality of life and wellbeing of this population.

Depression and anxiety in transgender and non-binary adolescents: prevalence and associations between adolescent and caregiver reports

Transgender/non-binary (TNB) adolescents are at increased risk for mental health concerns, and caregiver awareness is important to facilitate access to care. Yet, limited research has examined caregiver awareness of TNB mental health. Thus, we examined (1) the prevalence of internalizing symptoms (depression, generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, social anxiety) among TNB adolescents and (2) associations between adolescent and caregiver reports of adolescent mental health symptoms. TNB adolescents (N = 75) aged 12-18 and a caregiver were recruited from a multidisciplinary gender clinic in Ohio. Adolescents self-reported their mental health symptoms via the CDI and SCARED. Caregivers reported their perceptions of the adolescent's mental health symptoms via the CASI-5. Descriptive statistics assessed participant characteristics, adolescent self-reported mental health symptoms, and caregiver proxy reports of adolescent mental health symptoms. Pearson's correlations and scatterplots were used to compare adolescent and caregiver reports and McNemar tests assessed if the differences were statistically significant. Most TNB adolescents reported elevated symptoms of depression (59%), generalized anxiety (75%), separation anxiety (52%), and social anxiety (78%). Caregiver and adolescent reports were significantly correlated for depression (r = .36, p = .002), separation anxiety (r = .39, p < .001), and social anxiety (r = .47, p < .001). Caregiver and adolescent reports of generalized anxiety were not significantly correlated (r = .21, p = .08). McNemar tests were significant (all p < .001), such that adolescents' reports met clinical cutoffs far more than their caregivers' reports.

CONCLUSIONS

Though adolescent and caregiver reports were low to moderately correlated, youth reports were consistently higher, suggesting the importance of interventions to increase caregiver understanding of TNB adolescent mental health.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Transgender/non-binary adolescents are at high risk for mental health concerns and caregivers are essential to coordinate care.

WHAT IS NEW

• This study expands the diagnostic mental health sub-categories examined in transgender/non-binary adolescents, noting elevated symptoms of separation and social anxiety. • Transgender/non-binary adolescents reported more symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, and social anxiety than caregivers.

Additive interaction between birth asphyxia and febrile seizures on autism spectrum disorder: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder that can significantly impact an individual's ability to socially integrate and adapt. It's crucial to identify key factors associated with ASD. Recent studies link both birth asphyxia (BA) and febrile seizures (FS) separately to higher ASD prevalence. However, investigations into the interplay of BA and FS and its relationship with ASD are yet to be conducted. The present study mainly focuses on exploring the interactive effect between BA and FS in the context of ASD.

METHODS

Utilizing a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling, we initially recruited 84,934 Shanghai children aged 3-12 years old from June 2014 to June 2015, ultimately including 74,251 post-exclusion criteria. A logistic regression model was conducted to estimate the interaction effect after controlling for pertinent covariates. The attributable proportion (AP), the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), the synergy index (SI), and multiplicative-scale interaction were computed to determine the interaction effect.

RESULTS

Among a total of 74,251 children, 192 (0.26%) were diagnosed with ASD. The adjusted odds ratio for ASD in children with BA alone was 3.82 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.42-6.02), for FS alone 3.06 (95%CI 1.48-6.31), and for comorbid BA and FS 21.18 (95%CI 9.10-49.30), versus children without BA or FS. The additive interaction between BA and FS showed statistical significance (P < 0.001), whereas the multiplicative interaction was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05).

LIMITATIONS

This study can only demonstrate the relationship between the interaction of BA and FS with ASD but cannot prove causation. Animal brain experimentation is necessary to unravel its neural mechanisms. A larger sample size, ongoing monitoring, and detailed FS classification are needed for confirming BA-FS interaction in ASD.

CONCLUSION

In this extensive cross-sectional study, both BA and FS were significantly linked to ASD. The coexistence of these factors was associated with an additive increase in ASD prevalence, surpassing the cumulative risk of each individual factor.