Parent-Reported Indicators of Depression in Non- and Minimally Speaking Adults With Autism
Abstract
There is little knowledge of how to identify depression in the 30% of adults with autism who are non- or minimally speaking (NMS). The current study aims to address this by using parent-reported behaviors to curate a list of indicators of depression in this population. When asked to describe why they think the person is depressed, qualitative analyses found parents (N = 152) frequently identified anhedonia and low mood. Endorsement patterns on existing depression surveys identify traditional depression symptoms like sleep, crying, and activity participation. On the other hand, many items (e.g., repetitive behaviors) were endorsed across groups with and without suspected depression, possibly capturing features of autism. Results inform our understanding of the manifestation of depression in NMS adults with autism and the development of screening tools.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Family and Disability Support Research
Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility
Publication details
- Journal / source
- American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Volume
- 131
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 171–186
- Publication date
- 9 January 2026
- Language
- EN