An investigation of types and awareness of psychological problems of male adolescents with autism spectrum disorders who have been treated for psychiatric disorders

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Title An investigation of types and awareness of psychological problems of male adolescents with autism spectrum disorders who have been treated for psychiatric disorders
Publication Type dissertation
School or College College of Education
Department Educational Psychology
Author Backner, William Matthew
Date 2012-08
Description This study examined types of psychological and functioning problems, and awareness of these problems, in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) who had been treated for comorbid psychiatric disorders. Participants were male adolescents, ages 11-18, who were "high functioning" (IQ > 85). The ASD group consisted of 26 adolescents, diagnosed with ASD and a comorbid psychiatric disorder, and their parents. The control group included 26 adolescents, without ASD or any psychiatric disorders, and their parents. Adolescents and parents completed the psychiatric disorders, and their parents. Adolescents and parents completed the Achenbach System of Empirically-Based Assessment (ASEBA) and the Rating of Functioning. Parents also completed a developmental history interview. Comparisons were made between parents and adolescents and between ASD and control groups. Anxiety (58%), depression (54%), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (46%) were reported as common comorbid diagnoses among ASD participants. In the ASD group, parent-report of psychological problems was significantly higher than the self-report on the ASEBA (Total scale t(25) = 3.34, p = 0.003, d = 0.66). On the other hand, there was no significant difference between parentand adolescent-report of symptoms in the control group (Total scale t(25) = -1.36, p = 0.187, d = -0.27). Even though adolescents with ASD had received treatment for psychiatric disorders, both adolescent and parent scales on the ASEBA were elevated.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Autism; Autism spectrum disorders; Functioning; Parent-report; Self-awareness; Self-report
Dissertation Name Doctor of Philosophy
Language eng
Rights Management Copyright © William Matthew Backner 2012
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 1,741,676 bytes
Identifier etd3/id/3419
ARK ark:/87278/s6bz9f93
Setname ir_etd
ID 196983
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6bz9f93
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