The ReSpect Lab, led by Professor Francesca Happé, comprises researchers and postgraduate students actively engaged in researching autism across the spectrum and lifespan. We are based at the SGDP Centre, and use a variety of methodologies and approaches with the aim of increasing understanding of strengths and difficulties in autism, to improve the lives of autistic children and adults.
Current projects include a focus on traditionally under-researched groups, notably women and girls and older adults on the autism spectrum. Mental health and wellbeing are a major topic, with ongoing work on compensation and camouflaging, as well as anxiety, and PTSD. We have strengths in experimental cognitive approaches, and the design of new tasks to tap how social information is processed. We welcome contact from early career researchers interested in applying for fellowships to come and join the ReSpect Lab. We are also always pleased to hear from autistic people and their families who are willing to help with our research studies in a fully participatory framework.
People
PhD Student
PhD Student
PhD Student
Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience
PhD student
Research student
Projects
Ageing and Autism
We are actively exploring autistic adults’ experiences of growing older, including the impact on cognitive strengths and weaknesses, mental and physical health.
Understanding gender differences in autism
Current work, with diagnosed and undiagnosed women and men, is examining gender differences in autism and why some people may ‘fly under the radar’, not receiving a diagnoses despite high autistic traits. We are also studying the educational journeys of girls and boys on the autism spectrum, school-exclusion, and wider vulnerabilities.
Mental health and wellbeing on the autism spectrum
Children and adults on the autism spectrum experience high rates of mental health problems, which can have a devastating effect on wellbeing and quality of life. Our current studies include work on social anxiety and its relation to cognitive characteristics such as intolerance of uncertainty and alexithymia. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a new focus of interest, with work testing the hypothesis that autistic people may be at increased risk of developing PTSD, and do so following experiences that others might not recognise as traumatic.
Publications
Activities
Autism ResearCH (ARCH) Seminar Series
The Autism ResearCH (ARCH) Seminar Series is a monthly meeting that takes place at the Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre at King’s College London. The ARCH Series focuses on sharing the work of early career researchers from London and across the UK. We also welcome presentations from autistic advocates, those with lived experience, and autism-related educators and charity partners. Our events are open to all, and we aim to provide a friendly and supportive platform to share knowledge, ideas, and experience, with the chance for informal networking over tea and biscuits after each session. The ARCH Series was set up in 2016 by Hannah Pickard and Lucy Livingston with funding from Autistica. The organisation has now passed on to Simone Capp and Gavin Stewart, with support from other PhD students in the ReSpect Lab group. If you would like more information about the ARCH Series (either as a possible presenter or for future meeting information) please email SGDP_ARCH@kcl.ac.uk or sign up to our mailing list through the link below:
Pointers
The ReSpect Lab group cannot offer clinical services, but the following information may be of use if you or someone you care for is seeking a diagnosis of autism or clinical help.
Adult autism assessments
There are different options for accessing an autism diagnostic assessment.
NHS options
Some boroughs in England have an adult autism diagnostic service, available to people living locally. Your GP, the practice manager at your GP surgery or the community mental health service should be able to advise about whether this exists, and if so, what the referral process is.
Alternatively, the National Adult Autism And ADHD Assessment service, based in South East London, accepts referrals from across England, subject to the local clinical commissioners (health authority) agreeing to fund this. If you would like more information, see here.
Private options
Diagnostic assessments are also available privately. Ideally, an assessment should be based on good practice guidelines outlined in the guidance from the National Institute for Clinical and Health Excellence. See here for more information.
Some key things to consider if you approach a health professional privately, are:
- Do they have experience of carrying out autism assessments?
- Do they offer a multidisciplinary team assessment (this means that two or more health professionals would be involved in the process)?
- Do they use standardised methods for doing the assessment (for example, semi-structured interviews), as well as a clinical interview (a conversation to understand reasons for the referral, and to talk about different aspects of your life including education, occupation, social relationships and health)?
- Do they explain any adaptations to the assessment process, due to the COVID-19 pandemic; for example, that this takes place on line, that there are provisions made if in person assessment is not viable.
- Will there be an opportunity to have feedback about the assessment findings and recommendations?
- Will they provide you with a written report?
- Will you be able to discuss the report with them once you have received this?
Psychological therapies for adults on the autism spectrum
NHS options
Non-autism specific psychological therapies services can usually be accessed via one of two ways:
The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Service (IAPT) - IAPT provides psychological therapies, usually Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, for symptoms including anxiety, low mood and worry. There are services across England. Some IAPT services accept self-referrals; otherwise, your GP should be able to refer.
Most boroughs have a secondary care psychological therapies service; this is often, but not always an option after accessing an IAPT (or equivalent) service.
Some adult autism services provide post-diagnostic support and/or individual or group psychological interventions.
The National Adult Autism and ADHD Psychological Therapies service (NAAAPS), based in South East London, accepts England-wide referrals, subject to funding by the local clinical commissioners (health authority). If you would like more information, see here.
Private options
You can also find a private therapist, via the British Psychological Society and British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies.
Some key things to consider if you approach a therapist privately, are:
- Do they have a professional accreditation (such as with the HCPC or BAPCP) ?
- Have they worked with adults with autism previously?
- Do they offer evidence-based psychological therapies?
- Do they offer any adaptations to their standard approach, to make therapy potentially more relevant for adults with autism? Can they offer you some examples of what these adaptations are?
- Do you have an opportunity to ask questions about the process or content of the initial assessment appointment, or subsequent sessions, in advance?
- Do they have clinical supervision? This is a mandatory requirement for health professionals offering clinical work.
Further information
Mental health charities
Autism charities
COVID-19
For many people, February 2020 onwards has been a difficult time, due to the lockdown and restrictions caused by the pandemic. Many of the charities above have information about COVID-19 and outline a range of strategies that might be helpful for coping at the current time.
People
PhD Student
PhD Student
PhD Student
Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience
PhD student
Research student
Projects
Ageing and Autism
We are actively exploring autistic adults’ experiences of growing older, including the impact on cognitive strengths and weaknesses, mental and physical health.
Understanding gender differences in autism
Current work, with diagnosed and undiagnosed women and men, is examining gender differences in autism and why some people may ‘fly under the radar’, not receiving a diagnoses despite high autistic traits. We are also studying the educational journeys of girls and boys on the autism spectrum, school-exclusion, and wider vulnerabilities.
Mental health and wellbeing on the autism spectrum
Children and adults on the autism spectrum experience high rates of mental health problems, which can have a devastating effect on wellbeing and quality of life. Our current studies include work on social anxiety and its relation to cognitive characteristics such as intolerance of uncertainty and alexithymia. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a new focus of interest, with work testing the hypothesis that autistic people may be at increased risk of developing PTSD, and do so following experiences that others might not recognise as traumatic.
Publications
Activities
Autism ResearCH (ARCH) Seminar Series
The Autism ResearCH (ARCH) Seminar Series is a monthly meeting that takes place at the Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre at King’s College London. The ARCH Series focuses on sharing the work of early career researchers from London and across the UK. We also welcome presentations from autistic advocates, those with lived experience, and autism-related educators and charity partners. Our events are open to all, and we aim to provide a friendly and supportive platform to share knowledge, ideas, and experience, with the chance for informal networking over tea and biscuits after each session. The ARCH Series was set up in 2016 by Hannah Pickard and Lucy Livingston with funding from Autistica. The organisation has now passed on to Simone Capp and Gavin Stewart, with support from other PhD students in the ReSpect Lab group. If you would like more information about the ARCH Series (either as a possible presenter or for future meeting information) please email SGDP_ARCH@kcl.ac.uk or sign up to our mailing list through the link below:
Pointers
The ReSpect Lab group cannot offer clinical services, but the following information may be of use if you or someone you care for is seeking a diagnosis of autism or clinical help.
Adult autism assessments
There are different options for accessing an autism diagnostic assessment.
NHS options
Some boroughs in England have an adult autism diagnostic service, available to people living locally. Your GP, the practice manager at your GP surgery or the community mental health service should be able to advise about whether this exists, and if so, what the referral process is.
Alternatively, the National Adult Autism And ADHD Assessment service, based in South East London, accepts referrals from across England, subject to the local clinical commissioners (health authority) agreeing to fund this. If you would like more information, see here.
Private options
Diagnostic assessments are also available privately. Ideally, an assessment should be based on good practice guidelines outlined in the guidance from the National Institute for Clinical and Health Excellence. See here for more information.
Some key things to consider if you approach a health professional privately, are:
- Do they have experience of carrying out autism assessments?
- Do they offer a multidisciplinary team assessment (this means that two or more health professionals would be involved in the process)?
- Do they use standardised methods for doing the assessment (for example, semi-structured interviews), as well as a clinical interview (a conversation to understand reasons for the referral, and to talk about different aspects of your life including education, occupation, social relationships and health)?
- Do they explain any adaptations to the assessment process, due to the COVID-19 pandemic; for example, that this takes place on line, that there are provisions made if in person assessment is not viable.
- Will there be an opportunity to have feedback about the assessment findings and recommendations?
- Will they provide you with a written report?
- Will you be able to discuss the report with them once you have received this?
Psychological therapies for adults on the autism spectrum
NHS options
Non-autism specific psychological therapies services can usually be accessed via one of two ways:
The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Service (IAPT) - IAPT provides psychological therapies, usually Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, for symptoms including anxiety, low mood and worry. There are services across England. Some IAPT services accept self-referrals; otherwise, your GP should be able to refer.
Most boroughs have a secondary care psychological therapies service; this is often, but not always an option after accessing an IAPT (or equivalent) service.
Some adult autism services provide post-diagnostic support and/or individual or group psychological interventions.
The National Adult Autism and ADHD Psychological Therapies service (NAAAPS), based in South East London, accepts England-wide referrals, subject to funding by the local clinical commissioners (health authority). If you would like more information, see here.
Private options
You can also find a private therapist, via the British Psychological Society and British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies.
Some key things to consider if you approach a therapist privately, are:
- Do they have a professional accreditation (such as with the HCPC or BAPCP) ?
- Have they worked with adults with autism previously?
- Do they offer evidence-based psychological therapies?
- Do they offer any adaptations to their standard approach, to make therapy potentially more relevant for adults with autism? Can they offer you some examples of what these adaptations are?
- Do you have an opportunity to ask questions about the process or content of the initial assessment appointment, or subsequent sessions, in advance?
- Do they have clinical supervision? This is a mandatory requirement for health professionals offering clinical work.
Further information
Mental health charities
Autism charities
COVID-19
For many people, February 2020 onwards has been a difficult time, due to the lockdown and restrictions caused by the pandemic. Many of the charities above have information about COVID-19 and outline a range of strategies that might be helpful for coping at the current time.