Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health of Adults with Autism in India: A case series

Background: This study focuses on the direct and indirect implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults with Autism in India. This study took into account the social isolation during the global pandemic in 2020 and its effect on the emotional well-being of the community. Methods: We designed a survey involving Indian residents. Part I involved questionnaires for different cohorts: 1) educated, 2) employed and 3) unemployed. The questions were based on proposed life models to maintain the heterogeneity according to the preferences of the target group. Part II of  involved online interviews conducted in English. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed. Findings: The analyses of participants’ responses (N=10) stipulated that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on autistic people's mental health has been variable. Participants encountered both positive and negative emotions. Factors such as disrupted schedules, fear of job loss, poor domestic support system and inconsistency in transition were important. These were associated with development of new or worsening of pre-existing psychological as well as behavioural conditions including depression, anxiety, panic attacks and high-stress levels. At the same time, reduced interactions with decreased social insistence led to an improvement for some participants. Interpretation: Our results illustrate the deterioration of mental health and well-being for Autistic adults due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings emphasise the need for the development of innovative approaches and investment in the creation of support systems to address mental distress in this population.