The experience of itch in autistic adults: An online survey

Tackley, George ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7464-7662, Unwin, Katy, Underwood, Jack ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1731-6039 and Jones, Catherine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0541-0431 2025. The experience of itch in autistic adults: An online survey. Autism in Adulthood

Preview

PDF - Accepted Post-Print Version Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Background: The self-reported experience of itch for autistic people has not been studied. Anecdote, theory, and emerging research suggest that itch experience is different in autistic people, with negative consequences. Methods: An online survey was completed by participants who self-categorised as diagnosed autistic (n=158), self-identified autistic (n=37) or not autistic (n=85). We asked about three categories of itch: spontaneous, provoked, and itch caused by a medical condition, with questions focussed on severity, timing and duration, and impact on daily activities. Results: Across all categories of itch there was a pattern of greater severity, duration, and impact in diagnosed autistic people compared to nonautistic people. Those with self-identified autism largely fell between the diagnosed autistic and not autistic groups. Itch severity was associated with self-reported autistic traits. As expected, we found more dermatitisrelated itch in autistic respondents, but this did not drive differences in spontaneous and provoked itch. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the self-reported itch experience of autistic people is more severe, longer lasting and of greater daily relevance, differences that cannot be attributed to the higher prevalence of skin dermatitis found in autism. Future studies are required to understand itch experience within the broader picture of sensory differences, and to develop management strategies for what can be a highly morbid experience.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Psychology Schools > Medicine
Publisher:	Mary Ann Liebert
ISSN:	2573-9581
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	26 March 2025
Date of Acceptance:	18 March 2025
Last Modified:	26 Mar 2025 15:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/177134

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item