Quality of Life, Neurosensory Disorders and Co-Occurring Medical Conditions in Individuals on the Spectrum, with a Special Focus on Females Diagnosed with Autism: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has a high prevalence and a significant economic impact. Our knowledge regarding neurosensory disorders and co-occurring medical conditions in the ASD population is limited, particularly for autistic women. Most of the studies include male participants or do not make comparisons with their female counterparts. The objective of this systematic review article is to explore the quality of life as well as the prevalence of neurosensory disorders and co-occurring medical conditions in individuals on the spectrum, with a special focus on autistic females. The literature search was carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria. A protocol of this systematic review was designed a priori and was registered in the PROSPERO database (registration number: CRD42022330368). We concluded that numerous medical areas were of concern. Autistic females are more likely than their male counterparts with ASD to suffer from psychiatric conditions such as post-traumatic stress syndrome, depression, and eating disorders. They are also more likely to report GI-related disturbances and chronic pain. Further investigations are warranted to determine quality of life, as well as the prevalence and severity of neurosensory disorders in individuals with ASD, specifically studies comparing autistic females with their male counterparts. The information derived from these studies will help develop better support systems for individuals with autism, particularly females on the spectrum, in pursuit of improving their quality of life.

Special considerations for assessing and caring for autism in girls and women

“…Currently, findings have gained strength as they rely on studies with larger samples, gradually incorporating more autistic women [6], as well as on reviews, metaanalyses and research presented as follows. These show that autistic women have better language skills [7], more social camouflaging [8][9][10][11][12], different and more social interests than autistic men [13,14], but also that they are more likely to develop associated comorbidities, especially psychiatric conditions [15,16]. These behavioral results are also supported by neuroimaging [18,19].…”

“…Mental health challenges, especially depression, affect autistic females from an early age. Recent evidence reveals that girls with ASD face other developmental stressors relevant to depression, including high rates of diverse gender identity and anxiety and discomfort related to sex and puberty-related concerns [70,71], emotion dysregulation [72][73][74], and other co-occurring psychopathology [15,16,[75][76][77]. Moreover, girls with autism reportedly have different social experiences that further exacerbate their mental health challenges.…”

Landscape of NRXN1 Gene Variants in Phenotypic Manifestations of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

“…ASD can vary in severity from mild to severe. It not only imposes social and personal challenges on the affected individuals and their families or caregivers but also leads to significant financial impacts on them and the healthcare system [5]. Individuals diagnosed with ASD often need comprehensive interventions from an early age, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, medical treatments, specialized education, and assistive technology [6,7].…”