(PS4-43) Examining the Relationship Between Autistic Burnout and Depression

Background: Autistic burnout has previously been defined as fatigue, exhaustion and increased autistic behaviors a result of life stressors in an autistic individual’s life, though the construct definition is still evolving (Raymaker et al., 2020; Arnold et al. 2023a; Higgins et al., 2021; Mantzalas et al, 2022). Researchers view autistic burnout as conceptually different from depression, yet many autistic individuals experiencing burnout report being misdiagnosed as having depression (Raymaker et al., 2020; Arnold et al., 2023a; Arnold et al., 2023b). Depression is more commonly diagnosed in women and is related to emotional dysregulation (Girgus and Yang, 2015; Joorman and Stanton, 2016). We seek to elucidate the unique and combined influence of gender and emotional regulation on autistic burnout and depression. Understanding mechanisms that affect the relationship between burnout and depression in autism could inform targeted and personalized intervention planning and prevention approaches (Arnold et al., 2023a). 

Methods: Participants are autistic adolescents and young adults ages 12-25 enrolled in a multi-site randomized controlled trial of therapies for emotional regulation problems. Before the first scheduled treatment session, the client or their caregiver will complete a battery of measures (emotion regulation, burnout, depression). Multiple regression will be used to test hypotheses. Model 1 will investigate whether emotional dysregulation accounts for part of the relationship strength between autistic burnout and depression. We predict the relationship between the two variables will weaken when accounting for emotional dysregulation. Model 2 will determine if gender moderates the relationship between autistic burnout and depression; we predict that a stronger relationship between autistic burnout and depression will exist in women. 

Results: Available preliminary data indicate that in a neurodiverse young adult sample (N=86), burnout was significantly related to depression scores, controlling for baseline depression (F(2,83) = 50.593, p< .001). By October of 2024, we expect to collect study data from 104 participants.

Discussion: While results from this trial are not yet available, the preliminary data described above suggests that autistic burnout is a construct both distinct from depression and yet potentially related to the development of depressive symptoms. Our forthcoming data is intended to elucidate predictors that may help differentiate these outcomes and serve as distinct treatment targets.