Considerations for Expanding Research and Clinical Care for the Neurodivergent Gender Diverse Population

Kashia A Rosenau; Erin Baroni; Elliot G Keenan; Maria L Massolo

doi:10.7759/cureus.51060

Considerations for Expanding Research and Clinical Care for the Neurodivergent Gender Diverse Population

Cureus. 2023 Dec 25;15(12):e51060. doi: 10.7759/cureus.51060. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Kashia A Rosenau¹, Erin Baroni¹, Elliot G Keenan², Maria L Massolo³

Affiliations

¹ Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.
² Education, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
³ Anthroplogy, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, USA.

Abstract

Little is currently known about the relationship between gender diversity and neurodiversity, although a growing body of researchers and clinicians are searching for more information to better serve this population. Gender-diverse individuals are three to six times more likely than cisgender individuals to identify as autistic or to report possible undiagnosed autism or autistic traits. Many gender-diverse individuals experience a shortage of gender-affirming medical care and are disproportionately impacted by barriers to mental health services. Similarly, autistic individuals report that the most common barrier to care is a lack of knowledgeable providers and/or resistance from providers to tailor care toward their specific needs. Two key areas in need of further research are 1) clinical approaches to gender-affirming medical and mental health care for neurodivergent patients and 2) the prevention and treatment of suicidality in gender-diverse neurodivergent individuals. Increasing collaborations amongst gender-diverse neurodivergent individuals, researchers, and clinicians are needed in order to further research and clinical practice to most directly and effectively improve physical and mental health care for the gender-diverse neurodivergent patient population.

Keywords: autism; clinical care; gender; gender diversity; neurodiversity.

Publication types

Editorial

Grants and funding

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the United States (US) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), grant #UT2MC39440. The information, content, and/or conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of the HHS or the US Government, nor should any endorsements by the HRSA be inferred.