Assessment of Social Anxiety in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder Nicole L. Kreiser and Susan W. White, Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech Despite the high prevalence of social anxiety in individ- American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013), it is sta- uals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is little ted that social anxiety is a hallmark of ASD. Van Steensel agreement on how to best assess such problems in this et al. (2011), in a meta-analytic review of anxiety disor- population. To inform evidence-based assessment, we ders in ASD, estimated that approximately 16.6% of peo- ple under 18 with ASD have comorbid social anxiety conducted a comprehensive review of research that has disorder (SAD). Considerable debate exists regarding the assessed social anxiety in children and adolescents with nosology of anxiety in people with ASD and whether ASD without co-occurring intellectual disability. social anxiety is better characterized as a part of ASD or a Although some evidence in support of the reliability of comorbid disorder (Wood & Gadow, 2010). Despite existing measures exists, there are concerns about overlap in diagnostic criteria between SAD and ASD, inflated estimates of the co-occurrence of social anxiety there is little empirical guidance on how to most accu- because of symptom overlap with ASD diagnostic crite- rately assess symptoms of social anxiety in people with ria, and the diagnostic sensitivity of existing measures is ASD. The uncertain reliability and validity of currently questionable. Recommendations for clinical assessment utilized measures to assess anxiety in individuals with of social anxiety in this population and future directions ASD and the need for the development of measures that for research on this topic, including the development of assess the unique and distinct features of anxiety in indi- new measures, are provided. viduals with ASD (Grondhuis & Aman, 2012; Ollendick Key words: assessment, autism, social anxiety, social & White, 2013; van Steensel et al., 2011) underscore this anxiety disorder. [Clin Psychol Sci Prac 21: 18–31, debate. 2014] Some people with ASD may experience symptoms of social anxiety, although they may not meet diagnostic criteria for SAD. The DSM-IV (APA, 2000) Anxiety is recognized as a common co-occurring specified that symptoms of SAD could not be better problem among individuals with autism spectrum accounted for by a developmental disorder. The € disorder (ASD; van Steensel, Bogels, & Perrin, 2011; DSM-5 (APA, 2013) currently specifies that when White, Oswald, Ollendick, & Scahill, 2009). Social anxi- symptoms of another disorder, including anxiety ety, in particular, is common among individuals with disorders, are present and fulfill diagnostic criteria for ASD who do not have co-occurring intellectual dis- that disorder (e.g., SAD), the disorder is diagnosed and ability (ID; e.g., Kuusikko et al., 2008; van Steensel considered comorbid to the ASD; however, for a SAD et al., 2011). Indeed, in the recently published Diagnostic diagnosis, symptoms (e.g., fear, avoidance) must not be and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5; better accounted for by ASD. Also, some individuals with ASD may not meet diagnostic criteria for SAD Address correspondence to Nicole L. Kreiser, Department of due to lack of interference with daily activities Psychology, Virginia Tech, 109 Williams Hall, Blacksburg, specifically attributable to the social anxiety. In light of VA 24061. E-mail: [email protected]. debate in the scientific community as to whether © 2014 American Psychological Association. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc., on behalf of the American Psychological Association. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: [email protected]. 18 symptoms of anxiety are a part of ASD or novel class or at work, going to social events, and presentation of ASD, throughout this article, the term participating in extracurricular activities and a lack of “social anxiety” will be utilized when referring to same-age peers may be indicative of the core deficits continuous, co-occurring symptoms of social anxiety, associated with ASD or social anxiety. In some cases, and “SAD” will be reserved for DSM-IV-based (APA, reality-based fears of rejection fuel avoidance of such 2000) diagnosis. situations (Bellini, 2004). Thus, the processes underlying social avoidance should be considered when CAUSES OF SOCIAL ANXIETY IN INDIVIDUALS WITH ASD determining whether symptoms are better accounted There is evidence that the presence of anxiety and for by ASD or social anxiety. Clinicians may be subject physiological hyperarousal contributes to, or exacer- to a “diagnostic overshadowing bias,” or the attribution bates, social disability in ASD (Kleinhans et al., 2010; of symptoms to the previously diagnosed condition Myles, Barnhill, Hagiwara, Griswold, & Simpson, (ASD) rather than a separate but co-occurring mental 2001). In turn, social disability (e.g., severe and disorder, in situations such as this (Grondhuis & Aman, pervasive lack of age-appropriate social skills) appears 2012; Mason & Scior, 2004). Conversely, clinicians to contribute, perhaps directly as well as indirectly via may, in some cases, attribute ASD symptoms to negative interactions with peers and social rejection, to previously diagnosed SAD (Towbin, Pradella, heightened anxiety in social situations (Bellini, 2004). Gorrindo, Pine, & Leibenluft, 2005). This bidirectional, mutually exacerbating relationship Another difficulty encountered in assessing social may be especially relevant for social anxiety among anxiety in individuals with ASD is the possible unique adolescents and adults with ASD without co-occurring presentation of social anxiety symptoms in this popula- ID (Kuusikko et al., 2008). A realistic worry about tion. Social anxiety in ASD may be different from what social failure and negative evaluation from peers has is observed in typically developing individuals (those been associated with greater cognitive ability in youth without ASD; Kerns & Kendall, 2012). Individuals with with ASD, who may have increased self-awareness and ASD may exhibit special clusters of symptoms of anxiety desire for social engagement and friendship, but experi- (Grondhuis & Aman, 2012) due to phenotypic alter- ence social confusion and lack the ability to establish ation of anxiety, possibly related to ASD pathogenic and maintain relationships successfully (Bauminger, processes (Wood & Gadow, 2010). For instance, Wood Shulman, & Agam, 2003; White & Schry, 2011). As and Gadow (2010) have proposed that fear of negative such, individuals’ social deficits associated with ASD evaluation and rejection in social situations, the core may contribute to symptoms of social anxiety, such as cognitive symptom within the tripartite model of SAD increased social avoidance due to realistic fears of (Clark & Watson, 1991), may lead to more severe ASD negative evaluation, rejection, and victimization (Wood symptoms such as increased repetitive, stereotyped, or & Gadow, 2010). rigid behaviors or behavioral problems, such as tantrums Behavioral similarities between social anxiety and and noncompliance, for individuals with ASD. Thus, ASD make distinguishing whether some symptoms the presenting symptoms of social anxiety in people (e.g., behavioral avoidance) are better accounted for with ASD may differ in form from social anxiety as by ASD or are indicative of co-occurring SAD presented in individuals without ASD and may also challenging. Individuals with ASD sometimes evade exacerbate the ASD pathology. Further, because indi- social situations due to a lack of desire to share viduals with ASD often lack insight into their own enjoyment with others or a lack of social reciprocity emotions, thoughts, and internal states (Berthoz & Hill, (APA, 2000). However, social disinterest cannot be 2005; Capps, Yirmiya, & Sigman, 1992; Lainhart & assumed to underlie all social avoidance in individuals Folstein, 1994; MacDonald et al., 1989), they may be with ASD. Some social avoidance and isolation may be unable to identify their own anxiety spontaneously or due to fear of rejection or peer judgment, as is seen in when explicitly asked. Based upon anecdotal evidence, typically functioning individuals with social anxiety they might instead report vague “bad feelings,” describe (Beidel & Turner, 2007). Avoidance of speaking in forms of physiological arousal (e.g., heart pounding, ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL ANXIETY IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER KREISER & WHITE 19 upset stomach), or describe patterns of avoidance of article (Mazefsky, Kao, & Oswald, 2011) that was not certain social situations. found in the aforementioned search was added, as it met inclusion criteria. A total of 46 studies met all cri- PRESENT REVIEW teria (Table S1). These 46 articles used a total of 18 To inform best practice assessment of social anxiety in different measures to assess social anxiety. It is of note ASD, we conducted a comprehensive review of the that although 46 separate studies were identified and published research from the last 23 years on social anx- efforts were made to omit redundant samples by only iety in children and adolescents with ASD. Findings including the most comprehensive, or primary, report related to the frequency of social anxiety and the when multiple reports came from the same sample, it psychometric properties of the most frequently utilized was not verified that all studies utilized completely measures employed to assess social