Profiles of Autonomic Activity in Autism Spectrum Disorder with and without Anxiety

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders 2021-12, Vol.51 (12), p.4459-4470
• Main Authors: Parma, Valentina, Cellini, Nicola, Guy, Lisa, McVey, Alana J., Rump, Keiran, Worley, Julie, Maddox, Brenna B., Bush, Jennifer, Bennett, Amanda, Franklin, Martin, Miller, Judith S., Herrington, John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Autism; Autonomic nervous system; Autonomy in children; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Care and treatment; Child and School Psychology; Comorbidity; Complications and side effects; Demographic aspects; Diagnosis; Health aspects; Medical diagnosis; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Parasympathetic nervous system; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Physiology; Psychology; Public Health; Resting; Risk factors; Youth
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04862-0

Both anxiety and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are associated with atypical physiological activity. Few studies have systematically assessed the resting physiological activity in ASD with co-occurring anxiety disorders. We tested 75 participants divided in four groups: youth with ASD, with (ASD + Anxiety = 22, 6F, 12.29 ± 2.83 years old) and without co-occurring anxiety (ASD Alone = 15, 6F, 11.59 ± 2.85 years old) and compared their physiological profile with that of matched typically developing controls (TDC) with (Anxiety Alone = 16, 6F, 11.24 ± 3.36 years old) and without co-occurring anxiety disorders (TDC = 22, 8F, 11.88 ± 2.88 years old). Results indicated reduced sympathetic and parasympathetic activity at rest in ASD as compared to TDC youth. ASD + Anxiety and Anxiety Alone groups showed different sympathetic, but similar parasympathetic activity. These findings suggest that autonomic profile-based approaches may advance research, diagnosis, and treatment of ASD and anxiety.