In recent years, increasing attention has been devoted to the phenomenon of autism diagnosis in adolescence and adulthood . Waiting lists for assessment have grown rapidly. In England, for example, the average waiting time for an autism diagnosis reached 300 days , substantially exceeding the 91-day target recommended by NICE (Fagg & Woodhead 2023). The rising demand for assessment reflects a broader shift in public awareness and clinical practice. Public discussion often pre

Overlaps, prevalence and comorbidity Overlapping symptoms It is now recognised that ASD and personality disorders (PDs) have a variety of factors in common. However, the exact nature of the relationship between ASD and the PDs remains unclear. Differentiating between ASD in adolescence and adulthood and PDs can often be challenging due to the similarity in symptomatology. For instance: -      PDs belonging to cluster A, such as schizoid or schizotypal, exhibit odd behaviours

Is there a hidden connection? Personality Disorders (PDs) and ASDs are distinct yet interconnected psychiatric disorders/ psychological conditions. Despite fundamental differences in their symptomatology and diagnostic criteria, both disorders share certain overlapping characteristics. Firstly, it is important to establish the defining features of PDs and ASDs. Personality Disorders   are characterised by enduring patterns of thoughts, emotions, and inflexible, maladaptive, o