There are fewer females than males diagnosed with autism, but autistic females are said to be under-identified and underrepresented in the existing diagnostic and service systems. The gender discrepancy may potentially be attributed to the lack of accurate understanding of autistic females and their needs. Emerging research has begun to document…

Objective: ADHD is often a lifelong condition, and has grown increasingly prevalent over the past few decades. Adolescence is a period characterized by the quest to develop a coherent identity, yet relatively little research has examined the relationship between ADHD diagnosis and identity. The purpose of this study was to explore the importance…

Women with Tourette's syndrome (TS) continue to be under-researched, despite female sex being associated with increased tic-related impairment in adulthood. Existing literature indicates that individuals with TS are more likely than the general population to report self-stigma, but little is known about the subjective identities of women with TS…

Objective: The goal of this study was to examine the experiences of women diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. Methods: Benefits and costs associated with obtaining the diagnosis were examined in two focus groups conducted virtually. Factors hindering and facilitating the identification, assessment, and subsequent treatment of ADHD were also…

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate the acceptance and support of neurodiverse people in society, with a focus on autism, and to use this to propose a framework to enhance inclusivity that can inform pedagogy within the education sectors. Design/methodology/approach: Three case studies from higher education have been presented…

Autism is more commonly diagnosed in males than females. One explanation is the 'female protective effect': there is something inherent in being female which reduces the likelihood of developing autism. However, evidence suggests that the condition is underdiagnosed in females, perhaps because females express their autism in ways which do not meet…

Objective: Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is characterized by vivid, excessive fantasy activity that becomes prioritized over other activities and may result in avoidant coping strategies. Little is known about the relationship between MD and internalized stigma in the neurodivergent sample. The current study aimed to examine emotional…

Quality of life is important for the development and evaluation of interventions for autistic people. It is a multidimensional concept, anchored in a sociocultural context and based on a person's subjective assessment of their life. The aim of this study is to examine whether the determinants of perceived quality of life vary by country (or…

Autism spectrum disorder in China differs considerably from autism spectrum disorder in the West in terms of prevalence estimates, education opportunities, and life outcomes of autistic people. The lack of autism spectrum disorder awareness could be a key factor underlying the disparities. To date, there has been no evaluation of autism spectrum…

Introduction: Intellectual disability (ID) and co-morbid mental health problems are more common in developing countries such as Bangladesh. However, little is known about how Bangladeshi health practitioners diagnose mental health disorders in people with an ID. Studies in developed countries have explored the impact of the diagnostic…

Internet-based social networks such as Twitter are rapidly gaining popularity among Saudis, and an increasing number of them are using the internet to source information about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The Saudi ADHD Society (known in English as the AFTA Society) is the only charity serving people with ADHD in Saudi Arabia.…

Counselors-in-training may struggle in working with addictions populations for various reasons, including limited training, pre-existing stigma toward the population, and low self-efficacy treating substance use disorders. This is concerning because professional counselors have the highest proportion of clients with a primary substance abuse…

This study explored caregivers' perspectives on facilitators and barriers to screening, diagnosis, and identifying and accessing other services for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); and caregivers' suggestions for improving the process. Eight focus groups with 55 caregivers were conducted. Four groups had a mix of White, African…

Jennifer O'Toole has an entertaining speaking and writing style and is a passionate advocate for children with Asperger's syndrome. She educates her audience with scientific descriptions of the phenomenon but also through metaphors that cause us to examine our own attitudes toward the way we treat people who are different. Most importantly, she…

Objective: To compare mental health symptoms and service utilization among returning student and nonstudent service members/veterans (SM/Vs). Participants: SM/Vs (N = 1,439) were predominately white (83%) men (92%), half were over age 30 (48%), and 24% were students. Methods: SM/Vs completed surveys 6 months post deployment (October 2011-July…