Objective: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have comorbid depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. The aim of this study was to examine levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in a sample of children with ASD, normal cognitive functioning and elevated anxiety. Methods: In total, 93 children aged 8-16 years with ASD and with normal cognitive functioning and (sub)clinical anxiety symptoms participated in the present study. Both parents and children filled in questionnaires to measure the level of depressive symptoms. Moreover, children reported their level of suicidal ideation. Results: More than 35% of the children with ASD reported clinical levels of depressive symptoms while, according to parents, even more than 75% of these children showed clinical levels of depressive symptoms. Girls reported significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms than boys. Moreover, 32.2% of the children with ASD and anxiety had suicidal thoughts and 2.2% of the children showed active suicidal ideation. No gender differences were found in suicidal ideation. Conclusions: The findings indicated that children with ASD, normal cognitive functioning and anxiety symptoms have an increased prevalence of clinical depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Therefore, depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation should be assessed when working with anxious children with ASD.

中文翻译：

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自闭症谱系障碍和焦虑症状增高的儿童中，合并性抑郁症状和自杀意念的患病率。

目的：患有自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的儿童经常有合并症的抑郁症状和自杀意念。这项研究的目的是检查ASD，正常认知功能和焦虑程度升高的儿童的抑郁症状和自杀意念水平。方法：本研究共纳入93名年龄在8-16岁的ASD儿童，他们具有正常的认知功能和（亚）临床焦虑症状。父母和孩子都填写了问卷以测量抑郁症状的水平。此外，儿童报告了其自杀意念水平。结果：超过35％的ASD儿童报告了抑郁症状的临床水平，而根据父母的说法，甚至超过75％的儿童表现出抑郁症状的临床水平。女孩报告的抑郁症状水平明显高于男孩。此外，有32.2％的ASD和焦虑症儿童有自杀念头，而2.2％的儿童表现出积极的自杀意念。在自杀意念中未发现性别差异。结论：研究结果表明，患有自闭症，正常认知功能和焦虑症状的儿童临床抑郁症状和自杀意念的患病率增加。因此，与焦虑的自闭症儿童一起工作时，应评估抑郁症状和自杀意念。研究结果表明，患有自闭症，正常认知功能和焦虑症状的儿童临床抑郁症状和自杀意念的患病率增加。因此，与焦虑的自闭症儿童一起工作时，应评估抑郁症状和自杀意念。研究结果表明，患有自闭症，正常认知功能和焦虑症状的儿童临床抑郁症状和自杀意念的患病率增加。因此，与焦虑的自闭症儿童一起工作时，应评估抑郁症状和自杀意念。