Consolidating a framework of autistic camouflaging strategies: An integrative systematic review.

The sample was heavily skewed towards White, British, female, and educated participants, limiting generalisability to other cultural and demographic groups. The review relied on self-reported data, which may exclude individuals who cannot self-reflect or who are less verbally able. Not all participants had a confirmed autism diagnosis, meaning some included individuals may not have met diagnostic criteria. The study did not involve autistic community collaboration in its development or review, which is noted as a weakness in representing internal experiences. Demographic data were inconsistently reported across included studies, making precise characterisation of the sample difficult.

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest and received no financial support for the research, authorship, or publication of this article.

Do not assume that a patient who appears socially competent is not camouflaging. The review shows that high-functioning presentation often masks significant cognitive effort and distress. Clinicians should not rely on outward behaviour alone to rule out autism or social communication difficulties.