Title: From Triggers to Mechanisms: A Decade-Long Exploration of Trauma in Autistic Individuals
Danny Horesh & Ofer Golan, Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
Abstract: Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, characterized by social-communication challenges, restricted, repetitive behavior and cognition, and sensory modulation differences. Autism has been known to show high comorbidity with various mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Previous research indicates that autistic individuals also face an increased risk of experiencing traumatic events. However, the comorbidity between autism and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been almost entirely neglected by researchers.
In this talk, we present findings from an ongoing, multi-phase, 10-year project, examining the complex associations between autism and PTSD. We assessed both autistic traits in a general population sample, and individuals formally diagnosed with autism. Overall, our findings reveal that autistic individuals face a significantly increased risk for PTSD compared to non-autistic adults. Interestingly, PTSD in autism was mostly triggered by social stressors, such as bullying and ostracizing. We also investigated shared mechanisms underlying autism-PTSD association, including emotion dysregulation, rumination, autobiographical memory, and social cognition. Finally, we will present preliminary findings from a qualitative study exploring the subjective experience of trauma among autistic individuals. Together, these findings underscore the critical need to examine PTSD through the lens of pre-existing neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities, thereby clarifying the unique experiences of autistic adults and informing improved strategies for diagnosis, early identification, and treatment.
Posted on 28/01/2026
