An investigation into the connection between autism and trauma – they share a number of symptoms, and can often co-occur, but researchers are only just now beginning to tease apart the causes and effects. Autistic people are often more vulnerable to PTSD, and may be more likely to be exposed to traumatic conditions (abuse, neglect, and more).
Yet PTSD may also manifest completely differently in someone with autism than it does in neurotypical individuals, leaving doctors either unaware of the condition or unclear on how best to help, as few have studied autism-specific treatments for trauma. Finally, however, a number of new projects aim to untangle this complicated knot. This article is, to our knowledge, the first time any reporter has delved into this long-ignored topic.