Wider research

Autistic women are overrepresented among people in treatment for Anorexia Nervosa. The current study aimed to: (1) better understand how AN develops and persists in autistic individuals from the perspective of autistic women, parents and healthcare professionals; (2) derive a theoretical model of restrictive eating difficulties in autism.

This paper provides a rationale and structure for considering a number of possible adaptations to the delivery of family-based therapy for anorexia nervosa specifically intended to enhance its relevance and potential effectiveness for children and adolescents on the autism spectrum; a subgroup known to represent a significant minority in eating disorder populations who have been identified as having relatively poor outcomes.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and autism share a number of common features, including restrictive eating, cognitive rigidity, and social difficulties. However, these similarities make distinguishing between co-occurring autism and AN, and AN only, complicated. To address this difficulty, the following paper presents a framework of clinical features associated with autism that are also common in AN, and outlines potential differences in presentation.

Poor mental health—compared to that of the neurotypical child population—is a serious concern for many autistic children and young people around the world. In the UK, we have an increasing number of autistic young people receiving care in NHS funded inpatient mental health facilities. While sensory processing differences have now been added to international diagnostic criteria for autism, recent autistic-led and co-produced, practice based research commissioned by the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Taskforce and delivered by National Development Team for Inclusion has identified that knowledge of autistic sensory differences and needs is institutionally absent.

Considering and meeting the sensory needs of autistic children and young people in CAMHS inpatient services.