5. We are understanding more about how mental illnesses develop in autistic individuals.
Autism is not a mental illness, however people with autism are more likely to develop a mental illness than the general population.
MQ member Dr Mark Taylor has identified some of the factors that may increase this risk, including genetic predisposition, the likelihood of misdiagnosis (particularly in autistic females) and having an additional diagnosis such as an intellectual disability or a physical condition such as chronic pain or hypermobility.
“We are just beginning to understand the factors that can cause mental health problems in autistic people. Some of these may be factors that increase the risk of mental illness in all people, such as having a family history of mental illness and having physical illness. Others may be more specific to autism, such as being diagnosed with autism at a late stage and having an intellectual disability as well as autism. We need to identify more of these factors, so that we can make sure that we offer support to those who are at higher risk of developing mental health problems at an earlier stage.” – Dr Mark Taylor
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