About this Research Topic

Background

Some specific physical and medical conditions are well recognized to be more common in autistic individuals compared to the general population (e.g., sleep-wake disorders, epilepsy, sensory impairments). However, the prevalence and the impact on autistic individuals and their families of other physical and medical conditions, such as cardiovascular conditions, cancer, musculoskeletal conditions, food intolerance, allergies, autoimmune problems, diabetes, and neurocutaneous disorders have yet to be established. The presence of such co-occurring conditions affects the success of treatment and worsens the quality of life of autistic individuals and their carers. Importantly, the awareness of the presence of specific physical and medical conditions associated with autism allows for targeted interventions and better outcomes.

Medical assessment of autistic individuals is crucial to clarify their physical and medical co-occurring conditions, identify differential diagnoses, and decide on targeted and individualized interventions. However, there are substantial gaps in the literature on physical and medical co-occurring conditions in autistic individuals. This Research Topic aims to contribute new knowledge on the prevalence of physical, and medical conditions, their causes, the long-term impact on the quality of autistic individuals’ and carers’ life, health service responses and their preparedness to receive and treat patients with autism, the capacity of standard screening to identify the presence of physical and medical conditions particularly in non-verbal or intellectually fragile individuals, the impact of physical and medical conditions on behaviors and emotions, and interventions to improve health. This Research Topic will seek answers to these and other questions, while raising awareness of how associated physical and medical conditions may impact autistic individuals’ lives.

Appropriate contributions will include, but not be limited to, Research Articles, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Systematic Reviews, Hypothesis and Theory contributions, Perspectives, Clinical Trials, Case Reports, and Opinion that cover the following and related topics:
• Studies on the prevalence of physical and medical conditions in autism
• Studies on the etymology of physical and medical conditions in autism
• Studies on the long-term impact on quality of autistic individuals’ and carers’ lives of co-occurring physical and medical conditions in autism
• Studies on health service response and their capacity to treat autism
• Studies exploring the capacity of standard screening to identify the presence of physical and medical conditions, particularly in non-verbal or intellectually fragile autistic individuals
• Studies on the impact of physical and medical conditions on behaviors and emotions of autistic individuals
• Studies on interventions to improve the health of autistic individuals
• Studies on gender differences, age, independence level, and other potential variables with potential implications for health outcomes

Keywords: Autism, Physical Health, Mental Health, Comorbidity, Dual diagnosis

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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