Today, I'm sharing insights from a study titled "Shining a Light on a Hidden Population: Social Functioning and Mental Health in Women Reporting Autistic Traits But Lacking Diagnosis." This research explores the experiences of women who exhibit autistic traits but have not received a formal diagnosis.
The study involved two nationwide online surveys in the UK, comparing social functioning and mental health between diagnosed autistic women and women who scored high on the Autism Quotient (AQ) but lacked a diagnosis. The researchers aimed to understand the female phenotype of autism, which suggests that autistic women often present with less obvious social impairments than autistic men.
The findings revealed that women who scored high on the AQ but lacked a diagnosis exhibited higher empathy and general social functioning compared to diagnosed autistic women. This suggests that these women may be better at masking their autistic traits, leading to missed or delayed diagnoses. Diagnosed autistic women had received more mental health diagnoses prior to their autism diagnosis compared to autistic men. Women were more likely to be misdiagnosed with conditions such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) due to overlapping symptoms with autism.
The study also highlighted that diagnosed autistic women tended to receive their autism diagnosis later in life, often after being diagnosed with other psychiatric conditions. This delay in diagnosis can exacerbate mental health problems and lead to inappropriate treatment. Both diagnosed and probably autistic women reported similar levels of anxiety and depression, highlighting the emotional strain of living with undiagnosed autism and the challenges of masking social difficulties.
The study emphasizes the importance of recognizing the unique presentation of autism in women to improve timely diagnosis and support. It suggests that clinicians should consider autism during psychiatric assessments, especially for women presenting with multiple mental health difficulties.
In conclusion, this research sheds light on the hidden population of women with undiagnosed autism, highlighting their social functioning and mental health challenges. By improving diagnostic procedures and awareness, we can better support these women and enhance their mental wellbeing.
Belcher, H. L., Morein-Zamir, S., Stagg, S. D., & Ford, R. M. (2023). Shining a Light on a Hidden Population: Social Functioning and Mental Health in Women Reporting Autistic Traits But Lacking Diagnosis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53, 3118-3132.