The Co-occurrence of Gender Dysphoria and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults: An Analysis of Cross-Sectional and Clinical Chart Data

Heylens, Gunter; Aspeslagh, Lore; Dierickx, Jesper; Baetens, Kariann; hoorde, Birgit Van; Cuypere, Griet De; Elaut, Els

doi:10.1007/s10803-018-3480-6

Cited by 65 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Similar findings have been reported in subsequent studies [2-5, but also see 6]. Regarding comparisons between gender minority adults assigned male at birth and control males, findings from these prior studies were mixed [1][2][3][4][5][6]. All these studies employed versions of the Autism Spectrum Quotient, a self-reported questionnaire, to assess autistic traits [1][2][3][4][5][6].…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Autistic traits, systemising, empathising, and theory of mind in transgender and non-binary adults

Kung

2020

Molecular Autism

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Background Prior research examining autistic traits in gender minority adults has reported mixed findings. Most prior studies did not include non-binary individuals. Little is known about the mechanisms shaping autistic traits in gender minority adults. This study examined autistic traits, as well as constructs related to the extreme male brain theory of autism and the mindblindness theory, in transgender and non-binary adults. Methods An online survey was conducted to assess autism-related traits in 323 gender minority adults, including 74 transgender men (individuals assigned female at birth and identify as a man), 95 transgender women (individuals assigned male at birth and identify as a woman), 104 non-binary AFAB (individuals assigned female at birth and identify as non-binary), and 50 non-binary AMAB (individuals assigned male at birth and identify as non-binary). Autistic traits, systemising, empathising, and Theory of Mind (ToM) were measured using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the short forms of the Systemising Quotient (SQ-Short) and the Empathy Quotient (EQ-Short), the 10-item version of the Empathy Quotient (EQ-10) and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (Eyes Test). Participants’ scores on these measures were compared with previously published scores based on large-scale general population samples including thousands of participants. Results On average, compared with control females in the general population samples, both transgender men and non-binary AFAB scored significantly higher on the AQ and the SQ-Short but scored significantly lower on the EQ-Short, the EQ-10, and the Eyes Test. No clear or consistent group differences emerged when transgender women and non-binary AMAB were compared with control males. Limitations The present study does not have a large sample of gender minority adults. It has been argued that the measures employed may not provide a precise assessment of the psychological constructs of interest. The present study has a “non-clinical” sample. However, not all gender minorities have access to or require clinical services, and so a “non-clinical” sample may be more representative of the gender minority community as a whole than samples recruited through clinics. Conclusions The current findings suggest a “masculinised” autism-related profile and reduced ToM in transgender men and in non-binary AFAB. These findings might be interpreted to support the extreme male brain theory of autism and the mindblindness theory. Further research is needed to corroborate these findings.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Autistic traits, systemising, empathising, and theory of mind in transgender and non-binary adults

Kung

2020

Molecular Autism

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“…Combining three different autism trait screening tools allowed a more stringent assessment than using only one. We found higher rates of autism traits than previous studies in Belgium and the UK which reported prevalence of 4.84-5.5%, respectively [30,29] based on the AQ, but lower rates than Nobili et al [32] who reported a prevalence of 36.3% based on the AQ-short. The considerable differences in autism prevalence may be explained by variations in access criteria for specialist gender services.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 80%

“…Heylens et al [30] conducted a cross-sectional study in a sample of 63 treatment seeking adults using the Social Responsiveness Scale Adults (SRS-A), the AQ, and clinical chart data of 532 adults referred to a specialist gender service over a 5-year period: based on the SRS-A, 27.1% of gender-referred individuals scored within the range of mild/ moderate/severe difficulties in relation to social responsiveness and 4.8% scored within a range suggestive of an autism diagnosis [30]. The clinical chart data highlighted that 6.0% of individuals attending the service over a period of 5 years had a certain autism diagnosis [30]. In another study, Vermaat et al [31] reported mean AQ score in individuals seeking gender affirming treatments which were similar to neurotypical samples, suggesting that the co-occurrence of autism and gender dysphoria may not be as prevalent as suggested.…”

Section: Adultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autism trait prevalence in treatment seeking adolescents and adults attending specialist gender services

et al. 2020

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Background. To assess the prevalence of autism traits in individuals accessing gender affirming treatments, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in the regional specialist gender services in Northern Ireland. Methods. One hundred and twenty-three individuals (38 adolescents and 69 adults) currently attending or who previously attended specialist gender services in Northern Ireland were recruited. Fifty-six individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB) and 66 individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) took part in the study. Main outcome measures: Autism Quotient (AQ), Cambridge Behavior Scale (EQ), and RAADS-14. Results. Autism trait prevalence rates of 19.5% (AQ); 25.4% (RAADS-14); and 35.8% (poor empathy traits). A combined measure comprising all three provided a prevalence of 17.2%. There were no mean differences in the scores between AMAB (assigned male at birth) individuals and AFAB (assigned female at birth) individuals. Conclusions. Autism traits present additional challenges during the assessment and treatment of individuals with gender dysphoria. Autism screening tools can aid in the identification of individual with additional needs.

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“…Aktuelle Studien zeigen, dass GD/Gendervarianz und ASS sowohl bei Kindern und Jugendlichen [13][14][15][16] als auch bei Erwachsenen [17] im Vergleich zu den einfachen Prävalenzen in der Allgemeinbevölkerung häufiger gemeinsam auftreten. Im Kontrast zum englischsprachigen Raum, in dem dieser Zusammenhang bereits in Übersichtsarbeiten dargestellt wurde [18], existiert bisher keine deutschsprachige Übersichtsarbeit.…”

Section: Autismus-spektrum-störungenunclassified

Autismus-Spektrum-Störungen und Geschlechtsdysphorie bei Kindern und Jugendlichen: Systematisches Review zur gemeinsamen Prävalenz

et al. 2020

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Zusammenfassung Ziel Die Literatur zum gemeinsamen Auftreten von Geschlechtsdysphorie/Gendervarianz und Autismus-Spektrum-Störungen wird für das Kindes- und Jugendalter systematisch aufbereitet. Methodik Für den Zeitraum 1946 bis Dezember 2018 wurde eine systematische Literaturrecherche durchgeführt. Ergebnisse Von insgesamt 144 identifizierten Publikationen erfüllten 22 die Einschlusskriterien. In den inkludierten Studien wiesen 4,7–13,3 % der untersuchten Kinder und Jugendlichen mit primär diagnostizierter Geschlechtsdysphorie/Gendervarianz gleichzeitig auch eine Autismus-Diagnose auf. In den Stichproben von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit primär diagnostiziertem Autismus war Gendervarianz mit 4–6,5 % im Vergleich zu nicht klinischen Stichproben überrepräsentiert. Schlussfolgerung Die Ergebnisse sprechen für ein erhöhtes gemeinsames Auftreten der beiden Phänomene bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. Methodische Überlegungen sowie klinische Implikationen werden diskutiert.

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The Co-occurrence of Gender Dysphoria and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults: An Analysis of Cross-Sectional and Clinical Chart Data

Cited by 65 publications

References 26 publications

Autistic traits, systemising, empathising, and theory of mind in transgender and non-binary adults

Autistic traits, systemising, empathising, and theory of mind in transgender and non-binary adults

Autism trait prevalence in treatment seeking adolescents and adults attending specialist gender services

Autismus-Spektrum-Störungen und Geschlechtsdysphorie bei Kindern und Jugendlichen: Systematisches Review zur gemeinsamen Prävalenz

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