Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has been identified to occur at different levels of severity. Patients with this disorder are sometimes misdiagnosed, because its symptoms overlap with other disorders.
It is said that women are less likely to be accurately diagnosed with autism during their lifetimes, with most being misdiagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) or other disorders before they are diagnosed with autism. A possible explanation is that young girls learn how to fit in and get along with others early. Focusing on social interaction may enable them to camouflage their autism symptoms, which keeps them from standing out.
On the other hand, males with autism spectrum disorder have more difficulties socially as well as poorer social skills.
Another reason females may be misdiagnosed is that the interests common to patients with autism may include a focus on diet and food. This focus mirrors symptoms of anorexia, which presents more in females, making it easier for physicians to overlook autism in favor of the eating disorder. Females also tend to be able to express their feelings and thoughts more easily and have higher linguistic skills than males, which may allow the disorder to go undetected for a period of time.
So, what symptoms lead to a BPD misdiagnosis?
Self-harm is one of the symptoms that will likely lead to a misdiagnosis. This behavior is normally used as a coping technique by patients with autism to alleviate unease associated with uncertainty, change or sensory issues. For patients with BPD, self-harm is mostly motivated by matters related to their relationships.
Additionally, the emotional dysregulation expressed by females with autism can sometimes be mistaken for borderline personality disorder. This also applies to the lack of quality friendships in females with either disorder.
What happens when an autism diagnosis is delayed?
Patients with BPD may benefit from psychotherapeutic therapy, because it offers support for the development of healthy relationships, emotional stability and awareness of an individual’s behaviors and thoughts.
Primarily, BPD is managed using dialectical behavior therapy. This method hasn’t been designed to manage ASD and doesn’t meet the needs of autistic individuals.
For autism, therapy goals are focused on sensory integration, improved communication and functioning effectively. Patients with ASD normally undergo cognitive behavioral therapy and are rarely prescribed any medications.
Misdiagnosis results in delayed treatment for a patient’s actual condition and may cause increased withdrawal from others, with some going to the extent of blaming themselves for not getting better. This highlights the importance of a correct diagnosis because it can alter the course of an individual’s life for the better. If diagnosis is correctly made in a timely manner, medications from companies such as PaxMedica Inc. (OTC: PXMD) can help patients attain a better quality of life as their symptoms are managed.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to PaxMedica Inc. (OTC: PXMD) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/PXMD
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