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Autism and Comorbidities

    Autism Spectrum Disorder, or Autism, is an interesting disorder alone. However, what if I tell you that there are many comorbidities that can co-occur with it? Like ADHD or anxiety disorders? Interesting enough, well stick around, because in Today's post, we will be discussing all about disorders that can be comorbid with Autism. 


Though, first off, let's ask the question, what is a comorbidity? 

  A comorbidity is a medical term to describe a situation, when a person has two or more disorders, syndromes, or conditions exist amongst each other in the body without either one causing the other.



How many comorbidities can there be? 

 Most of the time, there is usually time, however, there is also a small change, where in cases like mine, where a person can have three or more, like me and my sibling.



What disorders can be comorbid with Autism?

Any disorder can be comorbid with Autism, however, here are the most common ones from what I have found from research:

  • ADHD - According to the DSM-5-TR, this is an extremely common disorder that can be comorbid with Autism. I am one of those and I have a friend, who has might have both as well. 
  • Anxiety disorders, this is also a common one, as stated in the DSM-5-TR, especially among those who are non-verbal or struggle extremely with communication. As mentioned before, I also have Anxiety as well, you can read about that here.
  • ARFID, aka. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, is also can be a presenting feature in Autistic people. 
  • Auditory Processing Disorder - This is also fairly common for Autistic people, considering Autistic people struggle with processing information. 
  • Borderline Personality Disorder - While many late-diagnosed Autistics have been misdiagnosed with this, believe it or not, it can also be a comorbidity too. 
  • Bipolar Disorder - This one was shocking to me.
  • Brain fog - According to research, I once found, this can be present in Autistic people.
  • C-PTSD & PTSD, Yes, it's true. In fact, Autistic people go through more traumatic events than their neurotypical peers and develop this, especially Autistic women. I have trauma symptoms, but I am wondering, based on experience, if I have this, instead of BPD (borderline personality disorder) like my therapist though, since, based on the results of my psychological evaluation, I do not have BPD. 
  • Depression, in the DSM-5-TR, along with Anxiety, this is also a common mental illness amongst Autistic people. 
  • Epilepsy & seizures - According to the DSM-5-TR, this is a commonly associated with autism spectrum disorder.
  • Eating Disorders - Based on research, this is relativity common with Autistic people, those it's usually develops with specific characteristics. 
  • EDS, aka. Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - Research states that, based on a 2016 study, there was statistical supporting evidence of a connection between Autism and EDS.  
  • Gastrointestinal issues - Now, this one I do know, and is true. These issues can consist of constipation, based on the DSM-5-TR, like when I was a baby.
  • Gender Dysphoria - Now, yes, Autistic people can experience this, however, usually, while there is a lot of Autistic children, who become groomed into having this when they don't, there are those who do struggle with this. In fact, once they are ADULTS, they became Transexuals, the actual Trans people, like Blaire White, who has mentioned something about finding out about that she is Autistic. Which is something I recommend that Autistic children, who do have this, do. WAIT, UNTIL YOU ARE AN ADULT. 
  • Headaches - Autistic people can experience headaches a lot more than neurotypicals, due to sensor issues. 
  • Insomnia & sleep problems - When looking up this, research says, Autistic people can definitely struggle with sleep as well. In fact, I also struggle with sleep, due to my anxiety disorder. 
  • Mass Cell Activation - There is a significant link between Mass Cell Activation and Autism.
  • Migraines - A study showed that Autistic people are 42.7% more likely to experience a migraine than their neurotypical peers.
  • Mitochondrial diseases - this incidence of these two disorders is higher in Autistic people.
  • Neuropathies - Autistic people can, in context, have a comorbidity with different Neuropathies.
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - According to a study I found, OCD and Autism commonly occur. While I don't have this disorder, I do have High Obsessive-Compulsive thinking though, but it doesn't last for an hour like the criteria says. 
  • Psychosis & Schizophrenia - There is strong evidence of Psychosis happening in Autistic people and with Schizophrenia too. In fact, I once found a study that suggests a link between Autism and Schizophrenia, considering children of parents with Schizophrenia are 3% percent more likely to have Autistic traits while Autistic people are 3 times more likely to have Schizophrenia than neurotypicals. 
  • POTS, aka. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome - Autistic people are more likely to experience this chronic illness.
  • Tic disorders - With this disorder, there have been observed, clinical characteristics in Autistic people to have these kinds of disorders like Tourette's, for example.
  • Tinnitus - This type of disorder is common for Autistic people, so they are more likely to hear this annoying ringing in their ears.
  • Vertigo/Motion Sickness - Autistic people, depending on their sensory issues, can have association with motion sickness.
With all of these comorbidities, if you have the actual diagnosis of Autism, let me know down below what disorders are comorbid with yours? As an Autistic woman, I would love to know! No pressure though!

And that's it, Lovelies! I hope you enjoyed this post! Comment and share for more! See ya in the next post! Bye!

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