The experiences of both the experts at the vanguard of mental health research, and the patients who are able to express their reactions relating to the therapy and medications they have been given are crucial to establishing the reasons why people have particular symptoms. Such relevant information from people with lived experience is key to working out the future diagnoses and treatment plans for the individuals involved.
ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, often shortened to ASD are both thought to be associated with a range of health inequalities possibly including eating disorders. This research is still fresh, and there is not enough information or actual facts to suppose that our current clinical approaches are fit for purpose.
With new priorities to help along the research and ongoing treatments, clinicians can obtain an improved rationale in their profession. They then can make use of training from experiences gained in neurodiversity and the identification and minimisation of unintended adverse effects of psychological intervention to establish if disordered eating is one of the reasons for poor mental health.
The above is hoped to put in place testable hypothesis which can then enable ways to support people who are diagnosed to have some symptoms of disordered eating, allowing them to live positive and fulfilling lives.
Exact figures among a recent survey of those with autism don’t raise the alarm bells instantly since only 4.7% of those on the spectrum were known to have an eating disorder. Figures are similar for ADHD sufferers compared with 1% for the general population.
Worryingly eating disorders are associated with a range of adverse medical and psychiatric consequences. Mortality rates for those with anorexia are high with 1 in 5 dying through suicide.
Cognitive remediation therapy appears not to be effective in patients with anorexia who are experiencing high levels of autistic traits, while those with anorexia are not feeling like their cases are being suitably heard and they feel treatment for their eating disorder is not being met by standard treatments.
Service development and improvement in the cases of those with ADHD and autistic spectrum sufferers is, at the moment, inadequate purely because the knowledge base is falling short of the amount required to treat those with the symptoms.
Once again, the experiences of those at the forefront, the patients and those consultants well-read in the field, are crucial to the research, analysis and treatment which is necessary for the well-being of those diagnosed. The urgency of this cannot be underestimated.
Community consultation to shape research agendas, has historically been absent, and many research projects are not viewed as addressing this goal. One might suppose that the sensitivity in the field is difficult to face up to when dealing with ADHD, Autism and other eating disorders, such that dictating to sufferers how they should change their behaviour becomes increasingly hard to approach.
So, it seems that inclusion from all parties may be the way to solve some of the problems faced by the individuals involved.
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