Doctorate in Clinical Psychology: Main Research Portfolio

: 1) Pubertal development and mental health in autism: a scoping review; 2) The demographic representativeness of Pain Management Service patients at Great Western Hospital, Swindon; 3) Characterising homotypic and heterotypic continuity of mental health symptoms in autism: a longitudinal study across childhood

Abstract

The homotypic continuity of mental health symptoms – that is, that symptoms at earlier timepoints predict the same symptoms later on – is a consistent finding across the lifespan. However, among typically developing (TD)populations, this stability is less pronounced during the preschool years: some mental health symptoms (for example, conduct problems) can predict different symptoms (for example, depressive symptoms) later on. This is known as heterotypic continuity.

The prevalence of mental health problems among autistic populations is significantly higher than among TD populations, even at preschool age. However, it is not clear whether the heterotypic continuity of mental health symptoms seen in TD preschoolers is also experienced by autistic children.

This study aimed to examine the stability of mental health symptoms across childhood in an autistic sample. The study used data from a longitudinal cohort study of Canadian autistic children – the Pathways in Autism Spectrum Disorder study. Mental health symptoms were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist, and three subscales in particular were examined: Anxious/Depressed, Aggressive Behaviour and Attention Problems. Data were collected at three timepoints across childhood (T1mean age = 3.4 years, T2 mean age = 7.7 years, T3 mean age 10.7 years). Cross-115lagged panel models were constructed to assess the association between each subscale and its later equivalents, as well as with each of the other subscales, to test homotypic and heterotypic continuity.

The results showed strong evidence for all homotypic pathways across timepoints, as well as evidence for one heterotypic pathway: Aggressive Behaviour at Time 1 to Anxious/Depressed symptoms at Time 2. These results are in line with findings in TD populations in showing evidence for homotypic and heterotypic continuity during the preschool years. The results are consistent with a developmental cascade model, and also evidence of an early developmental window during which mental health symptoms may be more changeable in autistic children.

The findings demonstrate the importance of early identification of and intervention for autistic children experiencing mental health problems.

Date of Award	20 Sept 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Rachael Bedford (Supervisor) & Flora Wilson (Supervisor)