Listening to the autistic voice: Mental health priorities to guide research and practice in autism from a stakeholder-driven project.

Participants were recruited through advocacy groups, social media and support groups, so the sample may not represent autistic adults who are not connected to these networks. Only 130 of 236 survey participants completed the survey entirely, although all available responses were included. The project did not sufficiently include racial and ethnic minorities, non-speaking autistic adults, people who needed a caregiver to read or answer questions, or people without access to technology, transportation or communication supports. The survey was not trialed for screen-reader users. No demographic information was obtained from large meeting attendees because the meetings were not research activities. The authors did not analyse differences between life stages, so priorities may differ by age. The sample included more females and non-binary individuals than expected from autism prevalence estimates. The study reports preferences and research priorities, not tested treatment effects.

The project was funded by a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award. The authors state the funder did not play a role in design, data analysis or interpretation. The grant program officer participated in the Year 2 meeting as a panelist but did not implement or analyse project activities or interpret the data.

Do not read these rankings as proof that exercise, art therapy, animal-assisted therapy or occupational therapy improves mental health. The project asked autistic adults which interventions and outcomes they would prioritize for research, not whether those approaches work.