Our Research
Doctoral and collaborative research on neurodivergent adults — therapy, wellbeing and lived experience.
Current Research: Optimising Therapy for Neurodivergent Adults
Project: Optimising Therapy for Neurodivergent Adults: Reasonable Adjustments and Passions/Interests and their interplay in therapy and quality of life.
This study has been given ethical approval (UWE REC REF No: CHSS.23.12.080). You can contact Dr Nahory to discuss any questions: nahory2.hernandezmancilla@live.uwe.ac.uk
If you have any concerns related to your participation, please contact the Research Ethics Committee: researchgovernance@uwe.ac.uk
Research Summary Video
This video summary has been created to support accessibility to the Participant Information Sheet.
Participate in research
Please share the participant information with friends and people you think may be interested. Visit: https://uwe.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cwN3URdZZh6Ykgm
Systematic Review: RRBs and Mental Health in Autism
A systematic review of studies on relationships between restricted repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests and mental health conditions in autistic people without intellectual disability.
This review is registered on PROSPERO: CRD42022296836
INSAR 2023 — Stockholm, Sweden
We presented our research at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Annual Meeting 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden (3–6 May 2023).
Previous Research: Understanding RRBs in Adults with Autism
This study investigated Restricted Repetitive Behaviours (RRBs) in adults with autism as part of a Doctorate research project at the University of Bath, Department for Health.
What was this study about?
Previous research on RRBs seems to differ — some studies report RRBs as the source of mood disorders, while others report RRBs as a natural strategy used by autistic people to lower the severity of such mood disorders, thus improving functioning (Mercier, 2000; Zarafshan et al., 2017; Lin, 2018; Zimmerman et al., 2018; Kapp et al., 2019).
The study aimed to separate RRBs into: (1) repetitive movements and insistence on sameness or routines, and (2) intense interests, to understand which elements better explain differences in mood disorders in adults with autism.
Data collection for this study is now complete. If you are interested in future research: contact@neurodivergentfriendly.com
Previous Research — Participant Information Video
Video with the same information as the Participant Information Sheet, to make it more accessible.
Useful Support Contacts
If you are struggling, please reach out. Support is available.
- UK Samaritans — 116 123 — Free, 24/7, confidential
- UK National Autistic Society — 0808 800 4104
- UK SHOUT — Text SHOUT to 85258 — Free 24/7 crisis text line
- US/CA Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741 — Free 24/7 crisis counselling
- NZ Need to Talk — 1737 — Free call or text, 24/7
- AU Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4536
References
Kapp, S.K. et al. (2019). 'People should be allowed to do what they like': Autistic adults' views and experiences of stimming. Autism, 23(7), 1782–1792.
Mercier, C. (2000). A psychosocial study on restricted interests in high-functioning persons with pervasive developmental disorders. Autism, 4(4), 406–426.
Zimmerman, D. (2018). High-functioning autism spectrum disorder in adulthood: A systematic review. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 43(1), 2–20.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). DSM-5. APA Publishing.