Depression, Temperament and their Relationship to Other Characteristics in Children with Asperger's Disorder

Abstract

This study examined a number of characteristics and their relationship to depression in children and adolescents with Asperger's Disorder (AD). These characteristics included degree of AD symptomatology, temperament, general psychopathology, social skills, awareness of disability, gender, and parental vs. self-reports of the children's depression. A set of questionnaires assessing these characteristics was sent to families of individuals with AD. The following findings emerged. First, as might be anticipated, more severe AD symptomatology was related to lower mood in children with AD. Also, a higher level of social skills in these children was related to lower levels of depression. As predicted, a higher awareness of disability was related to higher levels of depression, as reported by the parents. Finally, parents rated their children with AD as being significantly more depressed than did the 13/22 children who could report on their own depression. This result was particularly relevant to the parents of males with AD. The findings are considered in the context of better understanding the possible connection between AD children's well documented mood difficulties and their other presenting characteristics, particularly their temperament and social and cognitive functioning.