Tag Archives: AVA – Women and Girls

Understanding the Needs of Girls and Women on the Autism Spectrum

Filmed at ACT’s 14th Annual Focus on Research Conference – April 4, 2018

This presentation was preceded by Improving the Recognition of Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum. 

In this talk, Dr. Mandy provides a developmental perspective on the characteristics of autism in females; an in depth look into the implications of the widespread practice by women and girls of “social camouflaging” their autism; their mental health needs – with a focus on eating disorders. The presentation ends with a discussion how women and girls can be better supported, including a  question and answer period.

William Mandy, PhD, DClinPsy

Dr. William Mandy is a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer at University College London, UK. Dr. Mandy’s research aims to improve the recognition of autism, and to develop new interventions to help autistic people. A particular research interest is improving the identification and care of females on the autism spectrum, who are currently at high risk of going unnoticed and under served by clinical and educational services.

Please note that Part 1 and 2 have been edited to protect the identity of the interviewed youth – voice audio has been removed and captions have been inserted.

Part 1: A Developmental Perspective

Part 2: Camouflaging Revisited

  • Why do autistic people camouflage?
  • Is camouflaging friend or foe?

Part 3: Mental Health Needs of Autistic Girls and Women – Anorexia nervosa and restrictive eating

Part 4: What Next? How we can better support girls and women on the autism spectrum

  • What is the percentage of women with ASD who also have an eating disorder?
  • Is there research on whether early diagnosis and intervention reduces the risk of eating disorders?
  • Is mimicry a form of self-regulation or to reduce anxiety?
  • Questions and discussion on camouflaging

Improving the Recognition of Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum

Filmed at ACT’s 14th Annual Focus on Research Conference – April 4, 2018

This presentation is followed by Understanding the Needs of Girls and Women on the Autism Spectrum.

In this thought provoking presentation, Dr. William Mandy shares his research into the characteristics of autism in females, the implications for diagnosis, and ways of improving recognition, with a focus on practical ways of improving clinical and educational practice. This presentation is deeply informed by Dr. Mandy’s clinical experience, as well as his research, he offers a compassionate perspective on the barriers faced by women and girls when they are not offered the self-awareness and family understanding that can accompanies a diagnosis. Also covered are myths about autism; new research into gender ratios and the impact of “camouflaging” on diagnosis of women and girls.

William Mandy, PhD, DClinPsy

Dr. William Mandy is a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer at University College London, UK. Dr. Mandy’s research aims to improve the recognition of autism, and to develop new interventions to help autistic people. A particular research interest is improving the identification and care of females on the autism spectrum, who are currently at high risk of going unnoticed and under served by clinical and educational services.

Part 1: A (very brief) introduction to autism

Part 2: Myths About Autism

Common myths:
  • Autism is rare
  • Most people with autism have a learning disability (IQ under 70)
  • Autism is just about having difficulties
  • Autism is a categorical disorder

Part 3: What is the Gender Ratio in Autism?

Is there a diagnostic bias against females?

Part 4: The Female Autism Phenotype

Part 5: Camouflaging

Part 6: Autism: The New Consensus & The Impact on Diagnosis

Girls and Women with Eating Disorders – Why are ASD and ADHD Missed?

Filmed April 2017 – edited into 3 parts; total 32 minutes
Christopher Gillberg, MD, PhD

Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Director, Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg

Presentation Description

The onset of eating disorders, which tend to affect girls and women rather than boys and men, usually begins in puberty or early adult life, but in many cases it has been preceded by early onset neurodevelopmental problems, including ASD and ADHD (ASD in anorexia nervosa, ADHD in bulimia nervosa). The neurodevelopmental difficulties have usually not been properly diagnosed before the appearance of the eating disorder; the slightly different clinical presentation in females and the general public/professional perceptions of ASD and ADHD contribute to this state of affairs.

Professor Gillberg is a world renowned autism researcher who has developed the concept of ESSENCE (Early Symptomatic Syndromes Eliciting Neurodevelopmental Clinical Examinations), recognizing the overlapping symptoms of ASD, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder/Conduct Disorder (ODD/CD), anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders, intellectual developmental disorder, communication disorders, dyslexia, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and others.

This presentation was preceded by Dr. Gillberg’s lecture, also available at Autism Videos @ ACT: ESSENCE* – Early Recognition of ASD and Associated Disorders Can Lead to Better Outcomes

Also available is  Practical Strategies for Supporting Mental Wellness of Teenage Girls and Women with ASD,  a presentation by Dori Zener, MSW, RSW.

These presentations were recorded in 2017 at ACT’s 13th Annual Focus on Research Conference, held at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia. ACT appreciates Dr. Gillberg’s generosity in allowing us to include it in Autism Videos @ ACT.

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Learning Objectives
  • Recognize symptoms of ASD and ADHD in eating disorders.
  • Understand how ASD and ADHD contribute to the eating disorder.
  • Analyze how, in the individual case, ASD and/or ADHD should best be diagnosed and intervened for and how this will affect outcome in the longer term.
Christopher Gillberg, MD, PhD

Christopher Gillberg is Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden where he heads the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre. He is also Visiting or Honorary Professor at the Universities of London, University College London (Institute of Child Health), University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, and Kochi University, Japan (where he is involved with the Japan Environment Cohort Study/JECS). Christopher Gillberg is considered the most productive autism researcher in the world, and is on Thomson Reuters 2014 list of the world´s most influential researchers (all fields) because of the number  of citations of the many peer-reviewed scientific papers he has published (600) relevant to children´s and adolescents’ mental and neurological health. His research interests included ASD, ADHD, Tourette syndrome, intellectual disability, epilepsy, behavioural phenotype syndromes, depression, reactive attachment disorder and anorexia nervosa. His research ranges from genetics and basic neuroscience through epidemiology and clinical phenomenology to treatments/interventions and outcome. He has written 31 books, which have been published in more than a dozen languages, several of which are standard textbooks in the field of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Autism. He is an honorary member of the Swedish National Autism Society and ADHD Society (“Attention”), and a member of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences.

Visit Dr. Gillberg’s blog. Christopher Gillberg and his team of experts offer their opinions each week on the latest happenings in the world of neuropsychiatry and mental health (ESSENCE). 

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: Autism in Anorexia Nervosa and Eating Disorders

Part 3: Why are Females with Autism missed?

How should we plan for best recognition and intervention in autism and other ESSENCE in females?

Topics covered: