Mental Health Service Use Among Adolescents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

Overview

Journal Psychiatr Serv

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2011 Aug 3

PMID 21807842

Citations 15

Authors

Sarah Carter Narendorf

Paul T Shattuck

Paul R Sterzing

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: This study examined prevalence and correlates of mental health service use among adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder.

Methods: Data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 were used to examine mental health service use among 920 youths with this disorder. Estimates are nationally representative of students enrolled in the special education autism category. Regression models examined the association of predisposing, enabling, and need factors with service use overall and with a focus on receiving these services at school.

Results: Overall, 46% (weighted) of the youths had used a mental health service in the past year. Of those who had, 49% (weighted) had received it at school. Need variables were the strongest correlates of service use. African-American youths and youths from lower-income families were more likely to receive school-based services.

Conclusions: Schools played a key role in providing services, especially for vulnerable populations. Focused attention on youths with an autism spectrum disorder is needed to ensure continuity of care as youths leave high school.

Citing Articles

More Than Just a Variable: The Need to Explicitly Focus on Black Youth Within Autism Transitions Research.

Roux A, Voltaire S, Steinberg H, Williams E, Anderson K, Hutson T Autism Adulthood. 2024; 6(2):119-127.

PMID: 39144071 PMC: 11320561. DOI: 10.1089/aut.2023.0041.

Demographic differences in access to health/therapeutic services over first year of the pandemic: a SPARK COVID-19 impact survey analysis.

Tsai J, Bhat A Front Health Serv. 2024; 4:1343636.

PMID: 38745995 PMC: 11091302. DOI: 10.3389/frhs.2024.1343636.

Patterns of Mental Health Service Use During the Transition to Adulthood Among Autistic Adolescents and Young Adults.

Davis S, Annis I, Hughes P, deJong N, Christian R, Ruble L Autism Adulthood. 2023; 5(4):366-373.

PMID: 38116058 PMC: 10726177. DOI: 10.1089/aut.2022.0088.

Community-based care for autistic youth: community providers' reported use of treatment practices in the United States.

Drahota A, Sridhar A, Moskowitz L, Kerns C, Soorya L, Wainer A Front Psychiatry. 2023; 14:1212084.

PMID: 37791130 PMC: 10544899. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1212084.

Assessing suicidal thoughts and behaviors and nonsuicidal self-injury in autistic and non-autistic early adolescents using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.

Schwartzman J, Muscatello R, Corbett B Autism. 2023; 27(8):2310-2323.

PMID: 37050857 PMC: 10567987. DOI: 10.1177/13623613231162154.

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