Trajectories of emotional and behavioral problems from childhood to early adult life.

The mental health outcomes were parent-reported, and the paper did not directly assess the young adults themselves. The SDQ is a screening questionnaire, and the paper says its accuracy for autistic people and adults is uncertain. The cutoffs used to describe high scores were not validated for autistic people or for this age range. The cohort had few female participants, so the paper could not examine sex differences. The sample size was modest, and the authors say findings need replication. The study did not collect systematic information about treatments or supports received over time, so symptom changes cannot be linked to interventions. Predictors were measured only at the first assessment, so changes in family or neighbourhood factors over time could not be examined. Wave 2 was limited to participants with IQ above 50, although the models tried to account for selective missingness.

The most recent wave was supported by Autism Speaks. Wave 1 was funded by the Wellcome Trust and UK Department of Health, and wave 2 by the UK Medical Research Council. Statistical analysis was supported through an NIHR program grant. The authors declared research support from NIHR, the European Union Innovative Medicines Initiative, Autistica, the Medical Research Council, the Economic and Social Research Council, Guy's and St Thomas' Charitable Foundation and the Maudsley Charity. Two authors hold NIHR Senior Investigator Awards. One author receives royalties from Western Psychological Services for the ADOS, an assessment used in the study.

Do not read the decline in symptoms as evidence that autistic adults no longer need mental health support. Many participants still scored high on screening questions, and the paper did not test treatment.