Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42199904›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in psychiatry2026

A scoping review of the relationship between autistic traits and eating disorders: exploring the secondary impact of eating disorders and co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses.

Jess Kerr-Gaffney, Emy Nimbley, Amelia Austin, Karri Gillespie-Smith, Helen Sharpe, Fiona Duffy

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jess Kerr-GaffneyInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom.
Emy NimbleyDepartment of Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Amelia AustinDepartment of Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Karri Gillespie-SmithDepartment of Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Helen SharpeDepartment of Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Fiona DuffyDepartment of Clinical & Health Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: Research has highlighted co-occurrence and phenotypic overlap between autism and eating disorders (EDs), however the origin of this overlap is uncertain. The aim of this scoping review was to assess existing evidence on the role of acute illness effects and co-occurring mental health difficulties in the relationship between autism and EDs. Methods: The review was conducted following the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews. Electronic databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science) and grey literature (ProQuest Dissertation and Theses) were searched up until 11th January 2026 for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods empirical studies using autism and ED search terms. Results: Longitudinal and qualitative evidence reporting Autistic traits in childhood, a lack of association between BMI and Autistic traits, and a link between autism and EDs not typically associated with low body weight suggests that the association between autism and EDs is not solely due to acute illness effects. High rates of additional mental health problems in those with EDs were not found to fully account for co-occurring autism or Autistic traits. Discussion: Areas for further research include ED populations other than anorexia nervosa (AN), and EDs in Autistic individuals rather than trait-based research. The review highlights the need for early identification of autism and support for Autistic young people, as well as improved training and autism-specific support in ED and other mental health services. Systematic review registration: Open Science Framework, https://osf.io/t5fwg.

Indexed as

anorexia nervosaautismavoidant/restrictive food intake disorderbinge eating disorderbulimia nervosaeating disordersneurodiversity

Identifiers

PMID42199904
PMCPMC13200032

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.