ERIC Number: EJ1037758
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Dec
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A Cost of Illness Study of Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders and Comorbid Anxiety Disorders as Compared to Clinically Anxious and Typically Developing Children
Steensel, Francisca J.; Dirksen, Carmen D.; Bögels, Susan M.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v43 n12 p2878-2890 Dec 2013
The study's aim was to estimate the societal costs of children with high-functioning ASD and comorbid anxiety disorder(s) (ASD + AD-group; n = 73), and to compare these costs to children with anxiety disorders (AD-group; n = 34), and typically developing children (controls; n = 87). Mean total costs for the ASD + AD-group amounted €17,380 per year. Societal costs were estimated at almost 142 million euro per year. Costs in the ASD + AD-group were four times higher compared to the AD-group, and 27 times higher compared to controls. ASD-related costs were higher in the ASD + AD-group; anxiety-related costs did not differ between the ASD + AD- and AD-group; costs due to physical or other reasons did not differ across groups. The findings suggest that costs can be decreased if effective treatment options for treating anxiety in ASD are established, however, the remaining costs associated with ASD would still be large. A limitation of the study is that a group of children with ASD without anxiety disorders is lacking.
Descriptors: Comorbidity, Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Comparative Analysis, Control Groups, Costs, Economic Factors, Intervention, Children
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Author Affiliations: N/A