Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41555142›Full record

ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2026

Clinical Correlates of Major Depression in Psychiatrically Referred Youth With and Without Autism: A Controlled Study.

Usman Ghumman, Maura DiSalvo, Maria Iorini, Akul Srinivasan, Aisha Saeed, Meredith O'Connor, Mohammad Ghaziuddin, Mai Uchida, Atilla Ceranoglu, Janet Wozniak and 1 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Usman GhummanThe Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, WRN 626, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. ughumman@mgh.harvard.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9617-8951
Maura DiSalvoThe Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, WRN 626, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
Maria IoriniThe Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, WRN 626, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
Akul SrinivasanThe Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, WRN 626, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
Aisha SaeedRiphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Meredith O'ConnorThe Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, WRN 626, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
Mohammad GhaziuddinUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Mai UchidaThe Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, WRN 626, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
Atilla CeranogluThe Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, WRN 626, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
Janet WozniakThe Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, WRN 626, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
Gagan JoshiThe Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, WRN 626, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis study investigates the co-occurrence between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) in pediatric populations, focusing on prevalence rates, comorbid psychiatric conditions, and their impact on clinical presentation and treatment outcomes.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective study of children and adolescents (ages 3-17) referred for psychiatric care to ambulatory care clinics (pediatric psychopharmacology [N = 2,307] and specialized autism spectrum disorder [N = 416] programs) at a major academic medical center. Psychopathology was assessed by the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Epidemiologic Version and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). ASD was diagnosed using DSM criteria.

resultsOur findings revealed a co-occurrence and bidirectional relationship between ASD and MDD (55% of ASD patients had MDD, while 9% of MDD patients had ASD). The symptom profile of depression in youth with ASD was consistent with the typical DSM-based presentation. The burden of psychopathology was significantly greater in the presence of ASD and MDD comorbidity, and in particular the rates of comorbid anxiety disorders, OCD, and psychosis were significantly elevated. Social competence and global functioning were worse in the presence of ASD and MDD comorbidity.

conclusionsA high prevalence of comorbidity with MDD was observed in psychiatrically referred youth with ASD, with a clinical presentation of MDD that is typical of the disorder. Higher prevalence of anxiety disorders and psychosis was observed in the presence of ASD and MDD comorbidity. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive assessment and tailored interventions for children with co-occurring ASD and MDD, particularly in addressing anxiety and ensuring adequate access to mental health services.

Indexed as

ASDCo-morbidityMDD

Identifiers

PMID41555142

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.