TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender dysphoria and autism spectrum disorder
T2 - A narrative review
AU - Van Der Miesen, Anna I.R.
AU - Hurley, Hannah
AU - De Vries, Annelou L.C.
PY - 2016/1/2
Y1 - 2016/1/2
N2 - The current literature shows growing evidence of a link between gender dysphoria (GD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study reviews the available clinical and empirical data. A systematic search of the literature was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Scopus; utilizing different combinations of the following search terms: autism, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Aspergers disorder (AD), co-morbidity, gender dysphoria (GD), gender identity disorder (GID), transgenderism and transsexualism. In total, 25 articles and reports were selected and discussed. Information was grouped by found co-occurrence rates, underlying hypotheses and implications for diagnosis and treatment. GD and ASD were found to co-occur frequently - sometimes characterized by atypical presentation of GD, which makes a correct diagnosis and determination of treatment options for GD difficult. Despite these challenges there are several case reports describing gender affirming treatment of co-occurring GD in adolescents and adults with ASD. Various underlying hypotheses for the link between GD and ASD were suggested, but almost all of them lack evidence. 2016
AB - The current literature shows growing evidence of a link between gender dysphoria (GD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study reviews the available clinical and empirical data. A systematic search of the literature was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Scopus; utilizing different combinations of the following search terms: autism, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Aspergers disorder (AD), co-morbidity, gender dysphoria (GD), gender identity disorder (GID), transgenderism and transsexualism. In total, 25 articles and reports were selected and discussed. Information was grouped by found co-occurrence rates, underlying hypotheses and implications for diagnosis and treatment. GD and ASD were found to co-occur frequently - sometimes characterized by atypical presentation of GD, which makes a correct diagnosis and determination of treatment options for GD difficult. Despite these challenges there are several case reports describing gender affirming treatment of co-occurring GD in adolescents and adults with ASD. Various underlying hypotheses for the link between GD and ASD were suggested, but almost all of them lack evidence. 2016
KW - Autism spectrum disorder
KW - co-morbidity
KW - co-occurrence
KW - gender dysphoria
KW - gender identity disorder
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84957429457&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.3109/09540261.2015.1111199
DO - https://doi.org/10.3109/09540261.2015.1111199
M3 - Review article
C2 - 26753812
SN - 0954-0261
VL - 28
SP - 70
EP - 80
JO - International Review of Psychiatry
JF - International Review of Psychiatry
IS - 1
ER -