Matrix Reasoning and Anhedonic Depression in Male Adolescents with Autism

Abstract

Background: Almost half of samples of young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience depression but little is known about the role of overall and specific cognitive function in that depression. Investigation of this link could help explain the pathway between cognitive function and depression. Methodology: Fifty-one male adolescents with ASD, plus 18 male adolescents without ASD, completed the Wechsler Abbreviated Intelligence Scale (2nd ed.) (WASI-II) plus the Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory-Depression (CASI-MDD) subscale. Data were analysed at the global (total IQ, depression) and subtest (IQ) and symptom (depression) levels. Results: Although there were no significant differences in overall IQ or any of the WASI-II subtests between the ASD and non-ASD samples, the ASD sample had significantly higher CASI-MDD scores. There was a significant correlation between global IQ and Matrix Reasoning with CASI-MDD total and anhedonia scores for the ASD sample, but no significant correlations between these variables for the non-ASD sample. Conclusions: Matrix Reasoning appears to be implicated in the development of anhedonic depression in adolescents with ASD.