{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T17:14:55Z","timestamp":1792084495365,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,6]],"date-time":"2026-01-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767657600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":5,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,19]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To examine the barriers and facilitators of anorexia nervosa (AN) recovery in adults with autism.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with autistic adults who identified as being in recovery or having recovered from AN.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Setting<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Participants were recruited via advertisements on social media and an eating disorder (ED) forum. Online Zoom interviews with 12 participants were conducted from October to November 2023.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Participants<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Overall, 12 autistic adults who identified as being in recovery or recovered from AN were included (11 women and 1 man; aged between 18\u201350 years).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Four key themes were identified: \u2018Sensory Experiences\u2019, \u2018Recovery in progress\u2019, \u2018Changing to healthy mindsets\u2019 and \u2018Engaging with treatment\u2019. Results indicated that recovery for participants did not follow a linear path, with the role of autistic traits, such as sensory sensitivities, interoception and the internal voice, making recovery challenging.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study provides insight into the challenges and motivations experienced during the recovery process. Findings highlight the need for further research to improve guidelines and autism awareness in ED services.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-111034","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]],"date-time":"2026-01-07T05:15:53Z","timestamp":1767762953000},"page":"e111034","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Exploring recovery from anorexia in autistic adults: a qualitative study"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-9882-4058","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Abigail","family":"McIntosh","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Swansea University, Swansea, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rachael","family":"Hunter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.1","unstructured":"Association AP . Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 2013."},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.21037\/TP.2019.09.09"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41588-025-02224-z"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.1186\/s13052-022-01310-w","article-title":"The global prevalence of autism spectrum disorder: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"48","author":"Salari","year":"2022","journal-title":"Ital J Pediatr"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaac.2017.03.013"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.6","unstructured":"Alv\u00e5 H . The greater dysphoria i\u2019ve had, the greater dysmorphia-they work together\u201d-an interview study on trans and nonbinary experiences of seeking and participating in Swedish eating disorder treatment. 2023."},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brown CM , Hedley D , Hooley M , et al . Hiding in Plain Sight: Eating Disorders, Autism, and Diagnostic Overshadowing in Women. Autism in Adulthood 2024. doi:10.1089\/aut.2023.0197","DOI":"10.1089\/aut.2023.0197"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1186\/s40337-024-01126-5","article-title":"Neurodivergence, intersectionality, and eating disorders: a lived experience-led narrative review","volume":"12","author":"Cobbaert","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Eat Disord"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/13623613241245749"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100992","DOI":"10.1016\/j.newideapsych.2022.100992","article-title":"Autistic camouflaging across the spectrum","volume":"68","author":"Petrolini","year":"2023","journal-title":"New Ideas Psychol"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Maenner MJ , Shaw KA , Baio J , et al . Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years\u2014autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2016. MMWR Surveillance Summaries 2020. doi:10.15585\/mmwr.ss6903a1","DOI":"10.15585\/mmwr.ss6903a1"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.12","first-page":"3","article-title":"Looking beneath the surface: Distinguishing between common features in autism and anorexia nervosa","volume":"31","author":"Kinnaird","year":"2021","journal-title":"JBCT"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11920-017-0791-9"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.1186\/s40337-024-01078-w","article-title":"Two identical twin pairs discordant for longstanding anorexia nervosa and OSFED: lived experience accounts of eating disorder and recovery processes","volume":"12","author":"Elwyn","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Eat Disord"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2020.112961"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/YCO.0000000000000739"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1192\/bjp.2019.113","article-title":"Anorexia nervosa: 30-year outcome","volume":"216","author":"Dobrescu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br J Psychiatry"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"836","DOI":"10.3390\/jpm12050836","article-title":"BMI at Discharge from Treatment Predicts Relapse in Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Scoping Review","volume":"12","author":"Frostad","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Pers Med"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1748","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-019-03931-3","article-title":"Eating Problems in Men and Women with an Autism Spectrum Disorder","volume":"50","author":"Spek","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Autism Dev Disord"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-020-04479-3"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1177\/1362361317722431","article-title":"Characteristics of autism spectrum disorder in anorexia nervosa: A naturalistic study in an inpatient treatment programme","volume":"23","author":"Tchanturia","year":"2019","journal-title":"Autism"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"793094","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2022.793094","article-title":"The Role of Emotion Regulation in Eating Disorders: A Network Meta-Analysis Approach","volume":"13","author":"Leppanen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Psychiatry"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-014-2337-x"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"188","DOI":"10.1027\/2512-8442\/a000062","article-title":"Interoception and Its Role for Eating, Obesity, and Eating Disorders","volume":"27","author":"Herbert","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur J Health Psychol"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijdevneu.2016.05.001"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"308","DOI":"10.1080\/09540261.2018.1531831","article-title":"Same behaviours, different reasons: what do patients with co-occurring anorexia and autism want from treatment?","volume":"31","author":"Kinnaird","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int Rev Psychiatry"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"538","DOI":"10.1002\/erv.2920","article-title":"Sensory processing and eating behaviours in autism: A systematic review","volume":"30","author":"Nimbley","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur Eat Disord Rev"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"469","DOI":"10.4103\/jispcd.JISPCD_135_21","article-title":"The Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Oral Sensory Challenges in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder","volume":"11","author":"Chaware","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Int Soc Prev Community Dent"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2018.04.009","article-title":"Differences in the Theory of Mind profiles of patients with anorexia nervosa and individuals on the autism spectrum: A meta-analytic review","volume":"90","author":"Leppanen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Neurosci Biobehav Rev"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1362361321991257"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"580","DOI":"10.1002\/erv.2873","article-title":"Different pathways, same goals: A large-scale qualitative study of autistic and non-autistic patient-generated definitions of recovery from an eating disorder","volume":"30","author":"Sedgewick","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur Eat Disord Rev"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1335","DOI":"10.1002\/eat.23953","article-title":"A call for autism-led research exploring definitions of recovery in Autistic individuals with an eating disorder","volume":"56","author":"Nimbley","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Eat Disord"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hunter R , Gibson C . Narratives from within \u201clockdown\u201d: A qualitative exploration of the impact of COVID-19 confinement on individuals with anorexia nervosa. Appetite 2021;166. doi:10.1016\/j.appet.2021.105451","DOI":"10.1016\/j.appet.2021.105451"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"328","DOI":"10.1080\/14780887.2020.1769238","article-title":"One size fits all? What counts as quality practice in (reflexive) thematic analysis?","volume":"18","author":"Braun","year":"2021","journal-title":"Qual Res Psychol"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"36","DOI":"10.7748\/ns.29.44.36.e9251","article-title":"Use of diaries in research","volume":"29","author":"Snowden","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nurs Stand"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fusch P , Ness L . Are We There Yet? Data Saturation in Qualitative Research. TQR 2015. doi:10.46743\/2160-3715\/2015.2281","DOI":"10.46743\/2160-3715\/2015.2281"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ramsay S , Allison K . Recovery From Anorexia Nervosa: A Concept Analysis. J Adv Nurs 2025. doi:10.1111\/jan.70142","DOI":"10.1111\/jan.70142"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1186\/s40337-025-01271-5","article-title":"Re-imagining connection: the role of late autism diagnosis in eating disorder recovery and social support","volume":"13","author":"Downs","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Eat Disord"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"670","DOI":"10.1002\/cpp.2034","article-title":"Understanding the \u2018Anorexic Voice\u2019 in Anorexia Nervosa","volume":"24","author":"Pugh","year":"2017","journal-title":"Clin Psychology and Psychoth"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.1186\/s40337-025-01270-6","article-title":"Co-occurring eating disorder and psychosis: a lived experience case exploration with examples and suggestions for personalized integrated treatment approach","volume":"13","author":"Elwyn","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Eat Disord"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0005-7967(98)00102-8"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2016.00121","article-title":"Can Interoception Improve the Pragmatic Search for Biomarkers in Psychiatry?","volume":"7","author":"Khalsa","year":"2016","journal-title":"Front Psychiatry"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rasd.2015.04.005","article-title":"A preliminary study of self-reported food selectivity in adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder","volume":"15","author":"Kuschner","year":"2015","journal-title":"Res Autism Spectr Disord"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"256","DOI":"10.1007\/s12020-015-0684-9","article-title":"Smell\u2013taste dysfunctions in extreme weight\/eating conditions: analysis of hormonal and psychological interactions","volume":"51","author":"Fern\u00e1ndez-Aranda","year":"2016","journal-title":"Endocrine"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s13229-015-0013-4","article-title":"Effects of autism spectrum disorders on outcome in teenage-onset anorexia nervosa evaluated by the Morgan-Russell outcome assessment schedule: a controlled community-based study","volume":"6","author":"Nielsen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Mol Autism"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1056","DOI":"10.1002\/eat.23259","article-title":"Characteristics of autism spectrum disorders are associated with longer duration of anorexia nervosa: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"53","author":"Saure","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Eat Disord"},{"key":"2026010621152068000_16.1.e111034.48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"334","DOI":"10.1186\/s12888-016-1044-x","article-title":"How anorexia nervosa patients with high and low autistic traits respond to group Cognitive Remediation Therapy","volume":"16","author":"Tchanturia","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMC Psychiatry"}],"container-title":["BMJ Open"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-111034","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]],"date-time":"2026-01-07T05:15:59Z","timestamp":1767762959000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-111034"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]},"references-count":48,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,6]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-111034"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-111034","relation":{},"ISSN":["2044-6055","2044-6055"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2044-6055","type":"print"},{"value":"2044-6055","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]}}}