Psychosis can co-occur with autism more often than it does in the general population.

In a meta-analysis from 22 of 53 studies on kids and teens, about 9% of those of autism also

had psychosis, and about 7.5% had bipolar disorder. It can be challenging to differentiate

co-occurring autistic traits from

psychotic symptoms. In this episode, we will discuss how to recognize and treat psychosis in autistic

children. Dr. Kristen Kadenhead joins us today to help unpack this topic. She's a professor

of psychiatry and director of cognitive assessment and

risk evaluation, aka care, early psychosis treatment and research program at the University of

California, San Diego.

Welcome to the Carlatte Psychiatry podcast.

This is another episode from the Child Psychiatry team.

I'm Dr. Josh Fader, the editor-in-chief of the Carlet Child Psychiatry Report,

and co-author of the Child Medication Fact Book for Psychiatric Practice.

Second edition, just came out this March of 2023.

In America, government, a licensed clinical social worker in Southern California with a private practice and enthusiastic reader of the Carleck reports.

Dr. Fader, you mentioned earlier how the co-occurrence of autism and psychosis is higher than the occurrence of psychosis

alone within the general population. How severe are psychotic symptoms in autistic versus

non-autistic kids? The severity of psychotic symptoms seems to be similar between both

conditions. One study found the severity of psychotic symptoms was about equal in people with schizophrenia,

spectrum, and patients who are autistic and have psychotic symptoms.

Do the conditions share common risk factors?

Well, there are certain factors that increase the risk of developing both psychosis and autism,

...