Journal
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
Volume 53, Issue 8, Pages 3118-3132Publisher
SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05583-2
Keywords
Autism spectrum conditions; Female phenotype of autism; Late diagnosis; Autism masking; Psychiatric comorbidity; Misdiagnosis
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Female Phenotype Theory suggests that autistic women often have less obvious social impairments. Two nationwide online surveys compared self-reported social functioning and mental health between diagnosed autistic women and undiagnosed but probably autistic women. The findings showed that probably autistic women had higher empathy and general social functioning, and were more likely to be diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Autistic women had received more mental health diagnoses prior to their ASC diagnosis than autistic men.
Female Phenotype Theory (FPT) suggests that autistic women often present with less obvious social impairments than autistic men. We examined the possibility of an exaggerated female phenotype among undiagnosed but probably autistic women. In two nationwide online surveys, we compared self-reported social functioning and mental health between diagnosed autistic women and women without diagnosis who scored >= 32 on the Autism Quotient. Compared to diagnosed autistic women, probably autistic women had higher empathy and general social functioning, and were more likely to have received a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. Autistic women had typically received more mental health diagnoses prior to their ASC diagnosis than autistic men. These findings shed light on the history of misdiagnosis experienced by many autistic women.
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