The relationships between anxiety, psychotic-like experiences and autism: a systematic review

TL;DR

This review explores how anxiety, autism, and psychotic-like experiences are connected, suggesting that autistic individuals with anxiety may be at higher risk for psychosis.

Contribution

The first systematic review to examine the relationship between anxiety, autism, and psychotic-like experiences.

Findings

Anxiety is linked to higher likelihood of experiencing psychotic-like experiences.

Autistic traits predict the occurrence of psychotic-like experiences over time.

Anxiety disorders are more common in autistic individuals, with factors like intolerance of uncertainty playing a role.

Abstract

Research has suggested that anxiety may be responsible for the elevated levels of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) seen in Autism. However, there has been no previous systematic review examining this relationship.

We conducted three separate searches of PubMed and Ovid (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Global Health and EMBASE) until 31st June 2024 for articles reporting on the association between anxiety, Autism and PLEs. A total of 54 articles were reviewed, including research exploring the links between anxiety and PLEs (28 studies), Autism and PLEs (12 studies), Autism and anxiety (14 systematic reviews and meta-analyses).

Studies of Anxiety and PLEs: Thirteen reported a significant positive correlation, and ten studies indicated that individuals with anxiety were more likely to experience PLEs. Studies of Autism and PLEs: Seven identified a significant positive correlation, with three longitudinal studies reporting that autistic traits predicted PLEs. Studies of Autism and Anxiety: Seven reviews revealed increased prevalence rates of anxiety disorders among autistic individuals, while 9 identified potential mediators of this relationship, such as intolerance of uncertainty and IQ.

These findings demonstrate the association of PLEs with Autism and anxiety disorders, suggesting that co-occurring Autism and anxiety may represent an at-risk group for psychosis. Such insights have important implications for psychosis prevention, indicating that anxiety intervention in autistic populations may reduce PLE incidence. However, application of these findings to autistic individuals is significantly limited by the lack of included studies utilizing clinical populations. Future research is needed to establish the causal role of anxiety in this relationship, particularly using clinical adult samples.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024555930.

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