This project aims to improve the support autistic people with gender dysphoria receive. We believe that increasing NHS clinicians’ understanding of this group will contribute to more effective support.

This research will explore the following questions:

• What is it like for autistic young people and adults to experience gender dysphoria?
• How do autistic people, family members, and NHS clinicians think about the intersection of autism and gender dysphoria?
• What are the facilitators and barriers to autistic young people and adults receiving the right support for gender dysphoria?

The findings have contributed to the development of training materials for NHS clinicians. These will help them adapt to meet the needs of autistic people with gender dysphoria. Links to the training materials are available on this page.

Team members

• Dr Kate Cooper
• Dr Ailsa Russell
• Professor Will Mandy, University College London
• Dr Catherine Butler, University of Exeter

Research outputs

• Cooper, K., Russell, A., Mandy, W. & Butler, C. (2020). The phenomenology of gender dysphoria in adults: A systematic review and meta-synthesis. Clinical Psychology Review.
• Cooper, K., Mandy, W., Butler, C., Russell, A. (2021). The lived experience of gender dysphoria in autistic adults: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Autism.
  • Read an accessible written summary
  • Read an illustrated summary
• Cooper, K., Butler, C., Russell, A. & Mandy, W. (2022) The lived experience of gender dysphoria in autistic young people: A phenomenological study with young people and their parents. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
  • Read an accessible written summary
  • Read an illustrated summary
• Cooper, K., Mandy, W., Russell, A. & Butler, C. (2022) Healthcare clinician perspectives on the intersection of autism and gender dysphoria. Autism.
• Cooper, K., Mandy, W., Butler, C. & Russell, A. (2022). The phenomenology of gender dysphoria in autism: a multi-perspective qualitative analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Healthcare clinician training videos

We've created two training videos to help healthcare clinicians provide more effective care for autistic people with gender dysphoria:

• Adapting healthcare settings for autistic people with gender dysphoria. Covering appointment set-up, clinic environment and communication.
• Clinical approaches to exploring the experiences of autistic people with gender dysphoria. Covering common ways that autism and gender dysphoria intersect, and how to explore these experiences.

Watch these videos.

Videos require a password. This is available to healthcare clinicians supporting autistic people experiencing gender dysphoria. Contact Dr Kate Cooper for access.

Once you've viewed these videos, please complete the training material and provide feedback here.

Pre-clinic autism information form

This form can be shared with autistic patients before their first clinical setting meeting to help practitioners better understand their autism-related needs. It is free to download and use.