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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: anxiety

November 2020

Difficulty identifying emotions linked to poor mental health in autistic people

by  /  12 November 2020

Autistic people who have trouble identifying their emotions are also likely to have anxiety, depression and problems with social communication.

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illustration shows isolated figure alone in the prison yard, watching other inmates exercise and socialize.

Autism behind bars

by  /  11 November 2020

Prisons are often ill-equipped to handle autistic inmates, who are at risk for mental health problems and abuse.

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Smiling teenage boy showing mobile phone to friends on sofa while studying at home

Some autistic people report poor quality of life, but many do not

by  /  6 November 2020

Autistic people vary widely in how they describe their quality of life. Anxiety and depression may account for that range more than traits of autism do.

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September 2020
Illustration shows information flowing from family (parents and child) into algorithm .

Listening to parents can curtail autism’s diagnostic odyssey

by ,  /  15 September 2020

Surveys of parents’ impressions of their child’s emotional and behavioral problems can improve autism screening and shorten waitlists for diagnostic evaluations.

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People reaching out to touch hands through screen.

We need better strategies to support autistic people as the COVID-19 crisis continues

by  /  8 September 2020

Interviews with autistic people reveal that many miss their friends and opportunities for social connection, in stark contrast to orthodox views that they have little social motivation and prefer a life of self-isolation.

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August 2020
Photo-based illustration shows woman with a dress matching the wallpaper behind her, holding a mask.

Spotting the problems with ‘camouflaging’ in autism research

by  /  25 August 2020

Eric Fombonne spoke with Spectrum about the possibilities that autism is overdiagnosed in adults and that camouflaging traits is not unique to the condition.

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A plate with a slice of yellow cake sits on a blue plate on a light blue table cloth, surrounded by spoons and forks. This image places an emphasis on food and ritualized behaviors.

Autism and eating disorders may have an emotional connection

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rates of any kinds of mental illness. They don’t discriminate, affecting people of all ethnicities, sexualities, gender identities, ages and backgrounds.

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July 2020
Man working from home office.

INSAR 2020, from home

by  /  31 July 2020

Like so many other events this year, autism’s biggest annual conference — the International Society for Autism Research meeting — was forced to go virtual because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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An illustration of the brain shows the amydala highlighted in green among botanical forms that look like neurons.

Amygdala, the brain’s threat detector, has broad roles in autism

by  /  14 July 2020

The amygdala has long been a focus of autism research. But its exact role in the condition has been unclear.

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June 2020

Meet the autistic scientists redefining autism research

by  /  10 June 2020

Growing ranks of researchers on the spectrum are overcoming barriers — from neurotypical bias to sensory sensitivities — to shape autism science.

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