Co-occurring mental health conditions are the rule rather than the exception in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A full 70% of individuals with ASD have one co-occurring condition and 40% have two or more (Siminoff et al, 2008). Living with autism is a journey, and in talking to families, I often rely on a travel metaphor in describing ASD as “carrying suitcases.” This word picture helps families understand that ASD is the central condition, in dynamic interplay with others, and sets the stage for an integrated, multi-pronged approach to intervention.
Estimating the prevalence of co-occurring conditions in adults with mild ASD is complicated by the heterogeneity of ASD the condition and ASD research itself. Also until recently, subgroups of adults, females, and individuals with milder forms of ASD received much less attention. Research (Cassidy et al., 2014, Croen et al., 2015, Hofvander et al., 2009, Leitner, 2014, Leyfer et al., 2006, Muris et al., 1998, Simonoff et al., 2008; van Steensel et al., 2011) has identified the following prevalence rates for the most commonly occurring disorders: Anxiety, 40-80%; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), 37-85%; Depression, 26%; Mood disorder, 52%; and Suicidality, 66%.
Other conditions or problematic behaviors that co-occur less frequently (Cacola, Miller, & Williamson, 2017, Croen et al., 2015, De Vries et al., 2010, Haruvi-Lamdan et al., 2017, Hofvender et al., 2009, MacMullin et al., 2016) but require consideration when treating adults with mild ASD include: Psychosis; Schizophrenia; Gender dysphoria; Trauma; Excessive electronic gaming; and Learning disabilities in reading comprehension and compositional writing
Developmental Coordination Disorder
An important and neglected area of study is the relationship between trauma and ASD, as individuals with ASD are vulnerable to experiencing higher rates of social rejection, bullying, abuse, and conflict across development. A new review of what is known about ASD and substance use disorder (SUD) indicates that these conditions co-occur more often than has been believed (Palmer & Kunreuther, 2018). Like other individuals with anxiety, individuals with ASD may be particularly at risk for cannabis dependence (Hill et al., 2017).
Medical and neurologic conditions that co-occur with ASD (Canitano & Vivanti, 2007, Cohen et al., 2014, Croen et al., 2015, Fombonne, 2003) include: Tic disorders; Seizure disorder; Sleep, eating, and elimination disorders; and Obesity.
Thus, careful diagnostic assessment is crucially important at the initial stage of treatment. This leads to a sophisticated case formulation that accounts for the inter-related nature of ASD, co-occurring conditions, and behavior embedded in the biopsychosocial context.
Case Example
P.R. was a 21-year old young woman with average intellectual ability and language, enrolled in a young adult transition program. Previously diagnosed with ASD, ADHD, learning disabilities, and dysgraphia she had been treated with stimulant medication in the past. Over the previous six months, she had been re-started on a new stimulant to treat ADHD. She was not doing well. An already limited food repertoire had become further restricted, resulting in alarming weight loss. She was gaming several hours a day and her sleep-wake cycle was compromised. She had recently failed the one college course in which she had enrolled. Her social isolation had increased. Self-care and hygiene were poor. At a family meeting, she bore a hollow-eyed, haunted look. A staff clinician offered his interpretation that her behavior represented a wish to die. He affirmed that the team cared deeply for her. This decisive communication prompted her to disclose a daily, grinding experience of profound dread and hopelessness. Her mother began to weep and disclosed her own history of intractable depression. The team was then able to generate a set of interventions around now more clearly identified challenges. These included closer collaboration with the treating psychiatrist around the management of ADHD and depression and avoidance of appetite suppression, regular family sessions, psychoeducation concerning the interplay of ASD, depression, ADHD, sleep, nutrition, and excessive gaming, increased staffing to support nutrition, ADLs, and academics, and a behavior management program to support alterations in her relationship to gaming.
Lumping, Untangling, and Other Quandaries
The DSM 5 makes it easier to avoid the pitfall of lumping symptoms under the ASD umbrella. While this may result in what may feel like a staggering laundry list of “problems” families ultimately feel relieved at this “divide and conquer” approach. At the same time the strands that have been untangled then need to be re-woven. Over-zealous untangling can also lead to getting lost in the desire in therapist or client to find an exact one-to-one correspondence between a given behavior and a particular condition and so it is important for the process to remain focused on behavior change. Finally, it is crucial to appreciate the impact of the ASD symptomatology itself (including social and communication limitations) on the client’s experience of daily life, his insight and self-awareness, and capacity to receive help. The skilled clinician understands this and develops a comprehensive solution-based treatment plan.
Integrated Treatment
Individual therapy: Successful treatment for ASD reinforces a client’s process of self-acceptance, self-determination, and self-advocacy. Intervention needs to be client-centered, engage the client’s sense of humor, and characterized by patience and careful management of the potential for misunderstanding due to cognitive inflexibility and limitations in social communication and theory of mind. Initial steps involve establishing a working relationship around client-identified goals. The next phase of treatment involves careful but non-intrusive diagnosis of co-occurring conditions and patient, appropriate psychoeducation. Clients are supported to positively frame their diagnoses as a means of understanding and accepting one’s whole self and a vehicle for getting help and joining communities.
Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is the cornerstone of integrated treatment. Described by experts such as Valerie Gaus (2007), CBT is an established, evidence-based practice for the treatment of two of the most common co-occurring disorders in ASD—anxiety and depression. ADHD is best treated with well-researched CBT-based approaches developed for adults with ADHD (Ramsay & Rostain, 2015, Solanto, 2013), with modifications to manage ASD-related limitations in cognitive flexibility and pragmatic language. Integrated harm reduction therapy (IHRT), a treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) that emerged in the 90s (Marlatt & Tapert, 1998), uses a CBT framework but draws on motivational interviewing (MI) and psychodynamic principles to support behavior change. While there is currently no research concerning IHRT for individuals with ASD and SUD, this may prove to be a promising approach in individual therapy.
Family involvement: When treating adults with ASD clinicians may rely on standard clinical judgment around confidentiality and defer contacting family. However, adults with mild ASD are typically dependent on others in many ways. Presenting problems revolving around dysregulation (tantrums), lack of initiative, perseveration, or other behaviors occurring within a system are best supported with family involvement. While remaining fully client-centered and organized around the client’s goals, family sessions and psychoeducation are often essential to supporting behavior change.
Collateral therapies: Individuals with mild ASD usually require additional therapies. In addition to interventions that support social learning, clients may benefit from: Vocational coaching; Occupational or physical therapy; Behavioral coaching; and Neurodiverse couples therapy.
Psychopharmacology: Clients benefit from referral to a psychiatrist to assist with diagnosis and treatment options for co-occurring conditions. Because many have been misdiagnosed or received inadequate psychoeducation, adults with ASD and often their family members are often unaware that medication sometimes helps. Past history of failed or iatrogenic medication treatment or experienced trauma in schools or healthcare settings are additional factors in this wariness. These need to be considered when making and managing referrals to treating physicians.
Elizabeth Roberts, PsyD is National Director of Clinical Support Services for College Internship Program (CIP), a comprehensive transition program for young adults 18-26. For more information, visit www.cipworldwide.org.
References
Cacola, P, Miller, HL, Williamson, PO (2017) Behavioral comparisons in autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder: A systematic literature review. Res Aut Spectru Dis. June; 38: 6-18.
Canitano, R & Vivanti, G (2007) Tics and Tourette syndrome in autism spectrum disorders. Autism. Jan 11(1): 19-28.
Cassidy S, Bradley P, Robinson J, Allison C, McHugh M, Baron-Cohen S (2014) Suicidal ideation and suicide plans or attempts in adults with Asperger’s syndrome attending a specialist diagnostic clinic: A clinical cohort study. Lancet Psychia. 1(2), 142-147.
Cohen, S, Conduit, R, Lockley, SW, Rajaratnam, SMW, Cornish, KM (2014) The relationship between sleep and behavior in autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A review. J Neurodev Dis. 6(1):44.
Croen, LA, Zerbo, O, Qian, Y, Massolo, ML, Rich, S, Sidney, S & Kripke, C (2015) The health status of adults on the autism spectrum. Autism: The Intern’l J Res and Practice. 19(7), 814-823.
De Vries, AL, Noens IL, Cohen-Kettenis, PT van Berckelaer-Onnes IA, Doreleijers TA (2010) Autism spectrum disorders in gender dysphoric children and adolescents. J Aut Dev Dis. Aug 40(8), 930-936.
Fombonne, E (2003) Epidemiological surveys of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders: An update J Aut Dev Dis. 33(4), Aug, 365-382.
Gaus, V (2007). Cognitive Behavioral therapy for Adult Asperger syndrome. New York, NY: Guilford.
Harm Reduction Coalition (2017) Principles of Harm Reduction. Accessed January 8, 2018 at htt;://harmreduction.org/about-us/principles-of-harm-reduction.
Haruvi-Lamdan, N Horesh, D, & Golan O (2017) PTSD and autism spectrum disorder: Co-morbidity, gaps in research and potential shared mechanisms. Psychol Trauma Jul;20
Hill, S, Shanahn L, Costello EJ, Copeland W (2017) Predicting persistent, limited, and delayed problematic cannabis use in early adulthood: Findings from a longitudinal study J Amer Acad Child Adolesc Psychia. 56(11),966-974.
Hofvander, B, Delorme, R, Chaste P et al. (2009). Psychiatric and psychoscial problems in adults with normal-intelligence autism spectrum disorders. BMC Psychi. 9:35
Leitner Y (2014). The co-occurrence of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children-what do we know? Front Hum Neurosci. 8:268
Leyfer, OT, Folstein SE, Bacalman S, et al. (2006) Comorbid psychiatric disorders in children with autism: interview developemtn and rates of disorders. J Aut Dev. Dis. 36, 849-861.
MacMullin, JA, LUnsky, Y, Weiss, JA (2016) Plugged in: Electronics use in youth and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Autism 20(1), 45-54.
Marlatt, GA (1998) Harm Reduction: Pragmatic Strategies for Managing High-Risk Behaviors, Ed. G. Alan Marlatt New York, NY: Guilford.
Muris P, Steerneman, P, Merckelbach H, Holdrinet I, Mewesters C. Comorbid anxiety symptoms in children with pervasive developmental disorders. J Anx Dis. 12:387-393.
Myhill, G (2008). Asperger Marriage: Viewing Partnerships Through a Different Lens. NASW Focus. Dec.
Palmer, A, Kunreuther, E (2018) Drinking, drug use, and addiction in the autism community. Philadelphia, PA: J Kingsley.
Ramsay, JR, Rostain, AL (2015). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult ADHD: An integrative psychosocial and medical approach, 2nd ed. New York, NY: Routledge.
Ramsay, JR, Rostain, AL (2015). The Adult ADHD Took Kit: Using CBT to Facilitate Coping Inside and Out. New York, NY: Routledge.
Simonoff, E, Pickles, A, Charman, T, Chandler, S, Loucas, T & Baird, G (2008). Psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: Prevalence, comorbidity, and associated factors in a population-derived sample. J Amer Acad Child Adol Psychia, 47(8), 921-929.
Van Steensel, FJA, Bogels, SM, & Perrin, S (2011). Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders: A meta-analysis. Clin Child Fam Psychology Rev, 14, 302-317.
Recommended Reading
Gaus, V (2007). Cognitive Behavioral therapy for Adult Asperger syndrome. New York, NY: Guilford.
Harm Reduction Coalition (2017) Principles of Harm Reduction. Accessed January 8, 2018 at htt;://harmreduction.org/about-us/principles-of-harm-reduction.
Palmer, A, Kunreuther, E (2018) Drinking, drug use, and addiction in the autism community. Philadelphia, J Kingsley.
Myhill, G (2008). Asperger Marriage: Viewing Partnerships Through a Different Lens. NASW Focus. Dec.
Ramsay, JR, Rostain, AL (2015). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult ADHD: An integrative psychosocial and medical approach, 2nd ed. New York, NY: Routledge.
Ramsay, JR, Rostain, AL (2015). The Adult ADHD Took Kit: Using CBT to Facilitate Coping Inside and Out. New York, NY: Routledge.
Solanto, MV (2013) Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Adult ADHD. New York, NY: Guilford.
