# Autism Diagnoses Increasingly Cluster With ADHD and Anxiety Disorders Large-scale study reveals significant shifts in autism diagnostic profiles across the UK and Sweden. - **Source:** [HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk) - **Published:** 2026-11-05 - **Topic:** [health](https://brifing.si/c/health) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/82f7cc7a-03ad-4fb8-9aec-e48673ef2692 ## Shifting Diagnostic Landscape A massive study analyzing data from over 33 million individuals in the UK and Sweden reveals that the profile of those receiving autism diagnoses has changed dramatically since 2010. While autism diagnosis rates have surged, the demographic and clinical characteristics of newly diagnosed patients show a distinct shift toward co-occurring mental health conditions. ## Rising Co-occurring Conditions The research highlights a sharp increase in autism diagnoses among individuals already living with ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Specifically, the proportion of autistic adults with a pre-existing anxiety diagnosis jumped from 28.7% in 2010 to 58.3% by 2023, suggesting a growing overlap between autism and common mental health challenges in clinical settings. ## Decline in Traditional Markers Conversely, the study observed a consistent decline in the proportion of autistic adults who also have intellectual disabilities or epilepsy. In 2010, approximately 10% of autistic adults had a history of epilepsy, but this figure dropped to 4% by 2023, indicating that clinicians are now identifying autism in individuals without these traditional markers. ## Demographic Trends Observed The rise in diagnoses was particularly pronounced among women, white individuals, and those aged 16 to 20. Researchers noted that these demographic shifts may reflect broader societal changes, including increased awareness and the recognition of nuanced forms of autism that were previously overlooked or mislabeled as other conditions in the general population. ## Evolution of Diagnostic Criteria Changes to diagnostic manuals have likely influenced these trends, as clinicians are now more willing to recognize co-occurring conditions. The study suggests that the historical tendency to reserve autism diagnoses for individuals with overt, specific support needs has evolved, allowing for the identification of people who previously went unrecognized within the healthcare system. ## The Role of Masking Experts suggest that greater public and professional awareness has improved the identification of autistic women and girls. These groups often internalize or mask their autistic characteristics to fit in, which historically led to under-diagnosis. The current data reflects a more inclusive diagnostic approach that captures these previously hidden or subtle presentations of autism. ## Contextualizing the Data The researchers emphasized that these findings do not necessarily indicate over-diagnosis or a decrease in the severity of autism. Instead, the results reflect the changing context in which clinicians operate. The study identifies a correlation between rising autism rates and broader population-wide increases in anxiety and depression diagnoses over the same period. ## Future Clinical Implications While the study establishes a clear link between autism and other mental health issues, it does not claim a direct cause. Clinicians must remain cautious about the possibility of misattributing non-autism-related features to an autism diagnosis. Future efforts should focus on understanding these complex overlaps to ensure accurate support for diverse patient profiles. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/adhd-anxiety-autism-clustering-study_uk_6aec4a06e4b08d8d4a8dcaef — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._