Autonomic dysfunction in autism: The roles of anxiety, depression, and stress.
Emily C Taylor, Lucy A Livingston, Mitchell J Callan and 2 others
PMID 33491461WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic adults report more autonomic symptoms, such as dizziness and bowel issues, than non-autistic peers.
However, this difference disappears once anxiety and stress are accounted for. The symptoms appear driven by co-occurring mental health difficulties rather than autism itself.
Key findings
01In a matched sample of 22 autistic and 22 non-autistic adults, autistic participants reported significantly higher autonomic dysfunction and trait anxiety, but depression and state anxiety did not differ significantly.
02When trait anxiety was statistically controlled for, the difference in autonomic dysfunction between the autistic and non-autistic groups was no longer significant.
03In a larger community sample of 480 adults, anxiety and stress uniquely predicted autonomic dysfunction, while autistic traits and depression did not.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Study 1 had a small sample size (44 participants), which may have lacked the power to detect subtle effects. The studies relied on self-report questionnaires rather than physiological measures of the autonomic nervous system. Participants taking medications that indirectly affect cardiac function were not excluded, which could have influenced the results. Study 2 used autistic traits in a general population sample as a proxy for autism, which may not fully capture the experience of clinically diagnosed individuals.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The research was supported by the Medical Research Council and a Whorrod Doctoral Scholarship.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that autistic adults do not experience autonomic dysfunction. The study found they do report more symptoms, but this is likely driven by high levels of co-occurring anxiety and stress, not the autism diagnosis itself. Ignoring the anxiety component may lead to ineffective treatment of the physical symptoms.