Autism trait prevalence in treatment seeking adolescents and adults attending specialist gender services

Katrin Lehmann; Michael Rosato; Hugh P. McKenna; Gerard Leavey

doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.23

Autism trait prevalence in treatment seeking adolescents and adults attending specialist gender services

Katrin Lehmann
, Michael Rosato
, Hugh P. McKenna
, Gerard Leavey

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

239 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background. To assess the prevalence of autism traits in individuals accessing gender affirming treatments, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in the regional specialist gender services in Northern Ireland.
Methods. One hundred and twenty-three individuals (38 adolescents and 69 adults) currently attending or who previously attended specialist gender services in Northern Ireland were recruited. Fifty-six individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB) and 66 individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) took part in the study. Main outcome measures: Autism Quotient (AQ), Cambridge Behavior Scale (EQ), and RAADS-14.
Results. Autism trait prevalence rates of 19.5% (AQ); 25.4% (RAADS-14); and 35.8% (poor empathy traits). A combined measure comprising all three provided a prevalence of 17.2%. There were no mean differences in the scores between AMAB (assigned male at birth) individuals and AFAB (assigned female at birth) individuals.
Conclusions. Autism traits present additional challenges during the assessment and treatment of individuals with gender dysphoria. Autism screening tools can aid in the identification of individual with additional needs.

Original language	English
Article number	e23
Pages (from-to)	1-8
Number of pages	8
Journal	European Psychiatry
Volume	63
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.23
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 2 Mar 2020

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Autism
Gender dysphoria
Prevalence
Transgender
prevalence
gender dysphoria
transgender

Access to Document

10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.23Licence: CC BY

Final published versionFinal published version, 198 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Autism trait prevalence in treatment seeking adolescents and adults attending specialist gender services",

abstract = "Background. To assess the prevalence of autism traits in individuals accessing gender affirming treatments, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in the regional specialist gender services in Northern Ireland. Methods. One hundred and twenty-three individuals (38 adolescents and 69 adults) currently attending or who previously attended specialist gender services in Northern Ireland were recruited. Fifty-six individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB) and 66 individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) took part in the study. Main outcome measures: Autism Quotient (AQ), Cambridge Behavior Scale (EQ), and RAADS-14. Results. Autism trait prevalence rates of 19.5\% (AQ); 25.4\% (RAADS-14); and 35.8\% (poor empathy traits). A combined measure comprising all three provided a prevalence of 17.2\%. There were no mean differences in the scores between AMAB (assigned male at birth) individuals and AFAB (assigned female at birth) individuals. Conclusions. Autism traits present additional challenges during the assessment and treatment of individuals with gender dysphoria. Autism screening tools can aid in the identification of individual with additional needs.",

keywords = "Autism, Gender dysphoria, Prevalence, Transgender, prevalence, gender dysphoria, transgender",

author = "Katrin Lehmann and Michael Rosato and McKenna, \{Hugh P.\} and Gerard Leavey",

year = "2020",

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doi = "10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.23",

language = "English",

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AU - Lehmann, Katrin

AU - Rosato, Michael

AU - McKenna, Hugh P.

AU - Leavey, Gerard

PY - 2020/3/2

Y1 - 2020/3/2

N2 - Background. To assess the prevalence of autism traits in individuals accessing gender affirming treatments, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in the regional specialist gender services in Northern Ireland. Methods. One hundred and twenty-three individuals (38 adolescents and 69 adults) currently attending or who previously attended specialist gender services in Northern Ireland were recruited. Fifty-six individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB) and 66 individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) took part in the study. Main outcome measures: Autism Quotient (AQ), Cambridge Behavior Scale (EQ), and RAADS-14. Results. Autism trait prevalence rates of 19.5% (AQ); 25.4% (RAADS-14); and 35.8% (poor empathy traits). A combined measure comprising all three provided a prevalence of 17.2%. There were no mean differences in the scores between AMAB (assigned male at birth) individuals and AFAB (assigned female at birth) individuals. Conclusions. Autism traits present additional challenges during the assessment and treatment of individuals with gender dysphoria. Autism screening tools can aid in the identification of individual with additional needs.

AB - Background. To assess the prevalence of autism traits in individuals accessing gender affirming treatments, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in the regional specialist gender services in Northern Ireland. Methods. One hundred and twenty-three individuals (38 adolescents and 69 adults) currently attending or who previously attended specialist gender services in Northern Ireland were recruited. Fifty-six individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB) and 66 individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) took part in the study. Main outcome measures: Autism Quotient (AQ), Cambridge Behavior Scale (EQ), and RAADS-14. Results. Autism trait prevalence rates of 19.5% (AQ); 25.4% (RAADS-14); and 35.8% (poor empathy traits). A combined measure comprising all three provided a prevalence of 17.2%. There were no mean differences in the scores between AMAB (assigned male at birth) individuals and AFAB (assigned female at birth) individuals. Conclusions. Autism traits present additional challenges during the assessment and treatment of individuals with gender dysphoria. Autism screening tools can aid in the identification of individual with additional needs.

KW - Autism

KW - Gender dysphoria

KW - Prevalence

KW - Transgender

KW - prevalence

KW - gender dysphoria

KW - transgender

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JO - European Psychiatry

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Autism trait prevalence in treatment seeking adolescents and adults attending specialist gender services

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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Gender dysphoria: prevalence, pathways and experiences of people with autism traits

Hugh Mc Kenna

Cite this

Autism trait prevalence in treatment seeking adolescents and adults attending specialist gender services

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Student theses

Gender dysphoria: prevalence, pathways and experiences of people with autism traits

Profiles

Hugh Mc Kenna

Cite this