Autism diagnoses rise tenfold, linked to ADHD and anxiety

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 04:33 · Archive

Autism diagnoses in the UK have risen tenfold since 2010, increasingly among people with ADHD, anxiety and depression.

Research analysed health records from more than 33 million adults in the UK and Sweden between 2010 and 2023. In the UK, the rate of new autism diagnoses rose from six per 100,000 people in 2010 to 64 per 100,000 in 2023. By the end of the study, 241,936 people had received an autism diagnosis: 141,119 in the UK and 100,817 in Sweden.

The composition of those newly diagnosed has shifted significantly. Researchers found a decline in people diagnosed with autism who also had epilepsy and intellectual disability, but a rise among those with ADHD, anxiety, depression, stress-related disorders, eating disorders, headaches and chronic fatigue. The proportion of autistic adults with prior records of epilepsy in the UK decreased from 10 per cent in 2010 to 4 per cent in 2023. A rapid rise in diagnoses was recorded among 16- to 20-year-olds since 2010, alongside increases among women and white people compared to other ethnicities.

Experts are divided on what explains the trend. Some suggest it reflects 'cultural changes' surrounding the definition of autism, whilst others argue it demonstrates greater recognition and understanding of the neurodevelopmental condition. The Daily Mail reports that diagnoses 'increased rapidly' in the UK after 2020.

How it is being reported

• Autism explosion: Diagnoses have risen tenfold since 2010... but experts are divided over what's driving the surge in young womenResearchers say the trend is largely being driven by young women who also have conditions like ADHD, anxiety and depression.Daily Mail · 3 Nov, 23:37
• Autism diagnoses rise among those with ADHD, anxiety and depressionExperts identified an increase in people being diagnosed with autism who also suffer from things like stress, eating disorders, headaches and chronic fatigueThe Independent · 3 Nov, 23:30

In this story: United Kingdom · Sweden · Karolinska Institute · BMJ Mental Health

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