Between the Spectrum and Mental Health: A Narrative Review of the Relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neuropsychiatric Comorbidities

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) present a high prevalence of neuropsychiatric comorbidities, particularly anxiety disorders, depression, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These conditions substantially intensify the clinical, functional, and psychosocial challenges associated with the autism spectrum across the lifespan. This study aimed to analyze, through a narrative review of the literature, the association between ASD and these comorbidities, as well as their impacts on mental health, daily functioning, and overall quality of life. The literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, prioritizing recent and methodologically relevant studies addressing this topic. The findings indicate that symptomatic overlap between core ASD features and co-occurring psychiatric disorders complicates early identification, differential diagnosis, and clinical management. This overlap often leads to delayed treatment and suboptimal outcomes, underscoring the need for integrated, developmentally sensitive, and personalized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. In addition, the literature highlights significant structural barriers, including a shortage of trained specialists, limited access to multidisciplinary services, and the lack of targeted public policies, all of which hinder the provision of adequate care for this population. In conclusion, multidisciplinary interventions, combined with social inclusion strategies, community-based support, family and caregiver guidance, and the promotion of neurodiversity, are essential to improve emotional well-being, functional autonomy, and quality of life for individuals with ASD. Such efforts also positively impact families and caregivers, contributing to more equitable and effective mental health care.