V. 5 N. 2 (2023): Luglio - Dicembre 2023
Psicopatologia clinica

La Depressione nell'Adulto con Disturbo dello Spettro Autistico ad alto funzionamento: Prevalenza, Fattori di Rischio, e Trattamenti: una revisione sistematica

Francesco Marino
SiPGI

Pubblicato 23.11.2023

Parole chiave

  • Disturbo dello spettro autistico; Autismo ad alto funzionamento; Depressione; Comorbidità; Età adulta

Come citare

Marino, F., Brancati, R., Luongo, M., Cacciapuoti, L., Gallo, M., Ammendola, A., Durante, S., Di Donna, S., & Morfini, F. (2023). La Depressione nell’Adulto con Disturbo dello Spettro Autistico ad alto funzionamento: Prevalenza, Fattori di Rischio, e Trattamenti: una revisione sistematica. Phenomena Journal - Giornale Internazionale Di Psicopatologia, Neuroscienze E Psicoterapia, 5(2), 15–29. https://doi.org/10.32069/PJ.2021.2.198

Abstract

Background: Questo studio esplora la connessione tra il Disturbo dello Spettro Autistico (ASD) di livello 1 in assenza di disabilità cognitiva e la depressione negli adulti. Gli adulti con ASD hanno un rischio 4 volte maggiore rispetto alla popolazione generale di sviluppare depressione, a causa di fattori come deficit nella Teoria della Mente, isolamento sociale, disturbi del sonno e ideazione suicidaria. Mentre alcune terapie cognitive e basate sulla mindfulness possono aiutare, le sfide diagnostiche e la sensibilità ai farmaci complicano la gestione. L'obiettivo di questa revisione sistematica è (1) valutare in che misura è diffusa la sintomatologia depressiva tra gli adulti con autismo ad alto funzionamento e (2) identificare i fattori di rischio e protettivi specifici associati allo sviluppo della depressione negli adulti con autismo ad alto funzionamento.; (2) Metodi: Questa revisione sistematica, in linea con le linee guida PRISMA, ha analizzato la comorbilità della depressione negli adulti con autismo ad alto funzionamento; alla fine della revisione sono stati inclusi 18 articoli nell’analisi(3) Discussioni: Gli adulti con Disturbo dello Spettro Autistico (ASD) hanno un alto rischio di depressione. La depressione può essere influenzata dai tratti autistici, complicando il quadro. Alcuni fattori di rischio includono le difficoltà nelle funzioni esecutive, problemi di Teoria della Mente e riconoscimento facciale, isolamento sociale e difficoltà sociali, disturbi del sonno e un rischio aumentato di suicidio. Sono necessarie ulteriori ricerche per comprendere i fattori protettivi e i trattamenti efficaci per la depressione in individui con ASD. 

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