Parent-Reported Indicators of Depression in Non- and Minimally Speaking Adults With Autism

There is little knowledge of how to identify depression in the 30% of adults with autism who are non- or minimally speaking (NMS). The current study aims to address this by using parent-reported behaviors to curate a list of indicators of depression in this population. When asked to describe why they think the person is depressed, qualitative analyses found parents (N = 152) frequently identified anhedonia and low mood. Endorsement patterns on existing depression surveys identify traditional depression symptoms like sleep, crying, and activity participation. On the other hand, many items (e.g., repetitive behaviors) were endorsed across groups with and without suspected depression, possibly capturing features of autism. Results inform our understanding of the manifestation of depression in NMS adults with autism and the development of screening tools.