In Their Own Words:
Exploring Depression Presentations in Autistic Adults
Data collection for this study is now complete, and we are currently preparing the manuscript for publication.
Study Two Overview
Study Two has two primary objectives:
To understand how autistic adults experience and express their symptoms of depression.
To explore whether these symptoms align with or differ from current diagnostic criteria.
Why is this important?
While anxiety and PTSD are known to present differently in autistic individuals compared to the DSM-5 criteria, little research exists on whether depression presents similarly or differently in this population. This lack of understanding is due to the absence of research on the subjective experiences of depression symptoms in autistic adults. This study aims to fill that gap by exploring how autistic adults experience and express depression, providing greater understanding to inform more accurate diagnostic practices.
Methodology:
Autistic adults and their supporters were invited to share their experiences of depression. Through a series of carefully co-designed questions, participants described how depression affected them or those they support. This qualitative data formed the basis of our analysis.
