Summary

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a high risk of comorbid anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD and behavioral disorders. These comorbid disorders are associated with lower levels of functioning, lowe quality of life and reduced effects of interventions. They are often treated with medications. There is insufficient knowledge about how these comorbid disorders develop in children with ASD, and we know too little about predictors of comorbid diagnoses and pharmacological treatment. The aim of this project is to investigate trajectories of emotional and behavioral disorders in ASD, as well as how they are diagnosed and treated. We will compare children with ASD with children without ASD who have similar disorders. The project will link data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, the Autism Birth Cohort Study, the Norwegian Patient Registry and the Norwegian Prescription Database.

See the full project description at Cristin for more information about results, researchers, contact information etc.

Project participants

Project leader

Alexandra Karoline Saasen Havdahl, Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Project participants

Alexandra Karoline Saasen Havdahl, Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Christine Roth, Child Health and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Anne-Siri Øyen, Child Health and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Kari Furu, Physical Health and Ageing, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Heidi Aase, Child Health and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Inger Johanne Landsjøåsen Bakken, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Synnve Schjølberg, Child Health and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Guido Philipp Emmanuel Biele, Child Health and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health