A comparison of self-vs parent reports of Generalised Anxiety Disorder symptomatology across six age groups for boys with an ASD

Although there are reported differences in child vs parent-ratings of children’s anxiety in the wider population, no reports have been published of these differences across age groups in children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study investigated the extent and nature of parent–child disagreement on ratings of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in a sample of 140 high-functioning boys with an ASD aged 6 to 18 years and one of their parents. Results indicated that, after a peak at ages 7 to 8 years, GAD decreased for ages 9 to 18 years. There were statistically significant differences between parents’ and sons’ ratings for the total GAD score and for several of the individual GAD symptoms, although the clinical impact of those differences was limited. Some minor variation in those differences was present according to the age of the boys with an ASD. Suggestions are made for the valid assessment of GAD in boys with an ASD.