Improving awareness, understanding, and support for neurodivergent and gender diverse adults with eating disorders in Wales’

Current research is limited to examining ED presentations in neurodivergent and gender diverse people separately, meaning points of intersection have not been considered. This mixed-methods project will provide the most comprehensive investigation of the experiences of EDs for neurodivergent and gender diverse people. It will triangulate their lived experiences with clinicians’ perspectives of supporting these individuals.

The fellowship has three principal aims:

1. Increase our understanding of the phenomenology of EDs in neurodivergent and gender diverse people.
2. Characterise usual practice for supporting neurodivergent and gender diverse people with EDs and identify areas of best practice and barriers to support that are specific to these groups.
3. Co-design resources with neurodivergent and gender diverse people and clinicians to guide best practice, overcome clinician-related barriers, and share the lived experiences of EDs in these groups.

These aims will be achieved by meeting the following objectives across three WPs:          

WP1. 

Part 1: National survey (N = 500) of neurodivergent and/or gender diverse people in Wales with a current or historical ED. 

• Profile the patterns of ED symptoms and diagnoses for neurodivergent and/or gender diverse people. 
• Investigate the independent contributions of autistic, ADHD, and gender diverse traits to ED symptoms. 
• Explore ED service experiences from a diverse range of perspectives (e.g., geographical locations in Wales, different gender identities). 

Part 2: Qualitative interviews with neurodivergent and/or gender diverse people in Wales with a current or historical ED (N = 24). 

• Understand the lived experiences of the ED, the impact of identity/intersecting identities, and access to ED support. 
• Identify barriers to ED support and develop lessons for good practice in Wales.

WP2. Part 1: National survey with ED clinicians in Wales (N = 50). 

• Investigate awareness and understanding of EDs at the intersection of neurodivergence and/or gender diversity. 
• Characterise usual practice for treating EDs in these groups and identify potential training and development needs.

Part 2: Qualitative interviews with clinicians (N = 8) supporting neurodivergent and/or gender diverse people with EDs in Wales. 

• Explore clinician experience of providing ED support at the intersection(s) of gender diversity and/or neurodivergence to identity targets for interventions and support adaptations. 
• Understand clinician experience of providing ED support to characterise and evaluate usual practice and identify potential training and development needs.

WP3. Co-design and develop resources for healthcare professionals with neurodivergent and gender diverse people (N = 7) and clinicians (N = 3). 

• Develop a resource to guide good practice that is research informed and considers multiple perspectives. 
• Share the lived experiences of neurodivergent and gender diverse people with an ED and communicate the challenges and needs of these groups.

The project will be supported by the following training, development, and mentorship objectives: 

• Develop skills interacting with key beneficiaries to understand and experience the impact pathway from research to service change. 
• Become a leading researcher in EDs in marginalised groups by undertaking world class research that has service impact. 
• Developing my expertise and independence through qualitative and co production training courses and personal development opportunities.