Students in special needs education schools with a record of non-attendance may suffer significant mental problems. The salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) levels of such students were measured to evaluate their autonomic nervous system (ANS) function because sAA levels are known to rise as psychological stress is exacerbated. Furthermore, the relationship between psychological anxiety and ANS function (sAA levels) among school students with social anxiety disorder (SAD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with a record of school non-attendance was examined. The subjects included junior high school students with SAD (n=33) or ASD (n=17) and age-matched healthy controls (n=69). We assessed the subjects’ sAA levels and State-Trait Anxiety Index (STAI) scores to evaluate their psychiatric states. The sAA levels of the SAD and ASD groups were significantly higher than those of the control group. Both the SAD and ASD groups exhibited significantly higher STAI scores than the control group. The results revealed that junior high school students with SAD or ASD exhibit high levels of sAA and anxiety symptoms. Because sAA measurements can be obtained easily and quickly, they may be beneficial for evaluating the psychological stress of school students in special needs education with a record of school non-attendance.
