{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,29]],"date-time":"2026-04-29T08:42:41Z","timestamp":1777452161550,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,15]],"date-time":"2024-10-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1728950400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Autism"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,4]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Autism significantly impacts how individuals interact, communicate and perceive the world. Gastrointestinal disturbances, particularly constipation, are prevalent among autistic people, affecting their overall well-being. However, to the best of our knowledge, no specific guidelines are currently available regarding the diagnosis of constipation among this population. This systematic review investigates various diagnostic methods employed in studies addressing constipation among autistic adults. It aims to identify discrepancies between the symptoms reported based on diagnostic methods and the actual symptoms experienced by this population. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, nine studies conducted between 2012 and 2022 were included, revealing a predominance of non-prospective designs and an emphasis on children and adolescents. Diagnostic tools varied, including standardized criteria, questionnaires and observation. The prevalence of symptoms not outlined in the official criteria, such as sleep disorders and challenging behaviours, emerged as crucial aspects requiring comprehensive assessment in autistic people experiencing constipation. The study highlights the need for age-specific research in order to develop tailored assessment tools to improve diagnostic accuracy and enhance the overall management of constipation in autistic adults. Recognizing the diverse manifestations of constipation in this population is crucial for developing nuanced interventions and advancing healthcare strategies.<\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Lay abstract<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Autistic people often experience gastrointestinal issues, with constipation being one of the most common concerns. However, there are currently no specific guidelines for diagnosing constipation in autistic adults. This makes it harder for healthcare providers to identify and treat the condition effectively. In this review, we analysed nine studies from 2012 to 2022 to understand the various methods used to diagnose constipation in autistic adults and their symptoms. We found that most studies used different approaches, such as questionnaires, standardized criteria, or observation. In addition, many studies focused on children and adolescents, leaving a gap in understanding symptoms in autistic adults. The studies highlighted symptoms that were not covered by official diagnostic criteria, such as sleep disturbances and challenging behaviours. This indicates a need for healthcare providers to consider a broader range of signs when diagnosing constipation in autistic people. Our review suggests that more research focusing on adults is needed to create tailored tools for diagnosing constipation in autistic adults. This will help improve accuracy and ensure better treatment outcomes. Understanding the unique ways constipation can present in autistic people is crucial for developing effective care strategies. For healthcare providers, this review emphasizes the importance of recognizing a wide range of symptoms when assessing constipation in autistic people. For policymakers, it highlights the need for age-specific guidelines to ensure that autistic adults receive the care and support they need. Further research will help refine these diagnostic tools and ultimately lead to better healthcare practices for autistic people.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/13623613241289114","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,16]],"date-time":"2024-10-16T12:46:48Z","timestamp":1729082808000},"page":"850-858","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Symptoms of constipation in autistic adults: A systematic literature review on diagnostic methods and presence of actual symptoms"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"29","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-0303-8358","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Wynn","family":"Smith","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"L\u2019\u00c9lan Retrouv\u00e9 Foundation, France"},{"name":"Universit\u00e9 Rouen Normandie, Inserm, ADEN UMR 1073, France"},{"name":"Universit\u00e9 Paris Cit\u00e9, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Charlotte","family":"Desprez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Universit\u00e9 Rouen Normandie, Inserm, ADEN UMR 1073, France"},{"name":"CHU Rouen, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_3_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Acef S. Aubrun P. (2010). Soins somatiques et autisme lever les obstacles pour r\u00e9duire les in\u00e9galit\u00e9s. Sant\u00e9 Publique 22(5) 529\u2013539. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3917\/spub.105.0529","DOI":"10.3917\/spub.105.0529"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders fifth edition text revision (DSM-5-TR) (DSM-5-TR). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1176\/appi.books.9780890425787","DOI":"10.1176\/appi.books.9780890425787"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_4_1","unstructured":"Bergeron T. Eideliman J.-S. (2018). R\u00e9sultats de l\u2019enqu\u00eate ES-Handicap 2014: Les personnes accueillies dans les \u00e9tablissements et services m\u00e9dico-sociaux pour enfants ou adultes handicap\u00e9s en 2014 (Les dossiers de la DREES 28). https:\/\/drees.solidarites-sante.gouv.fr\/sites\/default\/files\/2020-08\/dd28.pdf"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bird F. Shlesinger A. Gopinathan H. Duhanyan K. Buckley J. Luiselli J. K. (2022). Health monitoring of students with autism spectrum disorder: Implementation integrity and social validation of a computer-assisted bowel movement tracking system. Behavioral Interventions 37(3) 766\u2013776. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/bin.1874","DOI":"10.1002\/bin.1874"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Buie T. Campbell D. B. Fuchs G. J.III Furuta G. T. Levy J. VandeWater J. Whitaker A. H. Atkins D. Bauman M. L. Beaudet A. L. Carr E. G. Gershon M. D. Hyman S. L. Jirapinyo P. Jyonouchi H. Kooros K. Kushak R. Levitt P. Levy S. E. . . .Winter H. (2010). Evaluation diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in individuals with ASDs: A consensus report. Pediatrics 125(Suppl. 1) S1\u2013S18. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1542\/peds.2009-1878C","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2009-1878C"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chaidez V. Hansen R. L. Hertz-Picciotto I. (2014). Gastrointestinal problems in children with autism developmental delays or typical development. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 44(5) 1117\u20131127. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10803-013-1973-x","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-013-1973-x"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Drossman D. A. Hasler W. L. (2016). Rome IV-functional GI disorders: Disorders of gut-brain interaction. Gastroenterology 150(6) 1257\u20131261. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1053\/j.gastro.2016.03.035","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2016.03.035"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_9_1","unstructured":"EPS Barth\u00e9l\u00e9my Durand. (2017 September 8). Echelle Simplifi\u00e9e d\u2019Evaluation de la Douleur chez les personnes Dyscommunicantes avec troubles du spectre de l\u2019Autisme. https:\/\/www.eps-etampes.fr\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/fichiers\/ESDDA.pdf"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ferguson B. J. Marler S. Altstein L. L. Lee E. B. Akers J. Sohl K. McLaughlin A. Hartnett K. Kille B. Mazurek M. Macklin E. A. McDonnell E. Barstow M. Bauman M. L. Margolis K. G. Veenstra-VanderWeele J. Beversdorf D. Q. (2017). Psychophysiological associations with gastrointestinal symptomatology in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research 10(2) 276\u2013288. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/aur.1646","DOI":"10.1002\/aur.1646"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gorrindo P. Williams K. C. Lee E. B. Walker L. S. McGrew S. G. Levitt P. (2012). Gastrointestinal dysfunction in autism: Parental report clinical evaluation and associated factors. Autism Research 5(2) 101\u2013108. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/aur.237","DOI":"10.1002\/aur.237"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gubbiotti M. Balboni G. Bini V. Elisei S. Bedetti C. Marchiafava M. Giannantoni A. (2019). Bladder and bowel dysfunction adaptive behaviour and psychiatric profiles in adults affected by autism spectrum disorders. Neurourology and Urodynamics 38(7) 1866\u20131873. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/nau.24081","DOI":"10.1002\/nau.24081"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Guinchat V. Cravero C. Diaz L. P\u00e9risse D. Xavier J. Amiet C. Gourfinkel-An I. Bodeau N. Wachtel L. Cohen D. Consoli A. (2015). Acute behavioural crises in psychiatric inpatients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Recognition of concomitant medical or non-ASD psychiatric conditions predicts enhanced improvement. Research in Developmental Disabilities 38 242\u2013255. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ridd.2014.12.020","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ridd.2014.12.020"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Holingue C. Newill C. Lee L.-C. Pasricha P. Fallin M. D. (2018). Gastrointestinal symptoms in autism spectrum disorder: A review of the literature on ascertainment and prevalence. Autism Research 11(1) 24\u201336. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/aur.1854","DOI":"10.1002\/aur.1854"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Holingue C. Pfeiffer D. Ludwig N. N. Reetzke R. Hong J. S. Kalb L. G. Landa R. (2023). Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms among autistic individuals with and without co-occurring intellectual disability. Autism Research 16(8) 1609\u20131618. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/aur.2972","DOI":"10.1002\/aur.2972"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Holingue C. Poku O. Pfeiffer D. Murray S. Fallin M. D. (2022). Gastrointestinal concerns in children with autism spectrum disorder: A qualitative study of family experiences. Autism 26(7) 1698\u20131711. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/13623613211062667","DOI":"10.1177\/13623613211062667"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0973134220210307"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Leader G. Barrett A. Ferrari C. Casburn M. Maher L. Naughton K. Arndt S. Mannion A. (2021). Quality of life gastrointestinal symptoms sleep problems social support and social functioning in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities 112 103915. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ridd.2021.103915","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ridd.2021.103915"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lewis S. J. Heaton K. W. (1997). Stool form scale as a useful guide to intestinal transit time. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology 32(9) 920\u2013924. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3109\/00365529709011203","DOI":"10.3109\/00365529709011203"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_20_1","volume-title":"Maisons d\u2019accueil sp\u00e9cialis\u00e9 et foyers d\u2019accueil m\u00e9dicalis\u00e9, similitudes et particularit\u00e9s","author":"Makdressi Y.","year":"2012","unstructured":"Makdressi Y. (2012). Maisons d\u2019accueil sp\u00e9cialis\u00e9 et foyers d\u2019accueil m\u00e9dicalis\u00e9, similitudes et particularit\u00e9s (Document de travail 123; S\u00e9rie \u00c9tudes et Recherche). Direction de la recherche, des \u00e9tudes de l\u2019\u00e9valuation et des statistiques DREES."},{"key":"e_1_3_3_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Margolis K. G. Buie T. M. Turner J. B. Silberman A. E. Feldman J. F. Murray K. F. McSwiggan-Hardin M. Levy J. Bauman M. L. Veenstra-VanderWeele J. Whitaker A. H. Winter H. S. (2019). Development of a brief parent-report screen for common gastrointestinal disorders in autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 49(1) 349\u2013362. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10803-018-3767-7","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-018-3767-7"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"McElhanon B. O. McCracken C. Karpen S. Sharp W. G. (2014). Gastrointestinal symptoms in autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis. Pediatrics 133(5) 872\u2013883. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1542\/peds.2013-3995","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2013-3995"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mellis C. M. (2020). How to choose your study design. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 56(7) 1018\u20131022. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/jpc.14929","DOI":"10.1111\/jpc.14929"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_24_1","unstructured":"Minist\u00e8re des Solidarit\u00e9s et des Familles. (2023 August 1). La strat\u00e9gie nationale autisme et troubles du neurod\u00e9veloppement. handicap.gouv.fr. https:\/\/handicap.gouv.fr\/la-strategie-nationale-autisme-et-troubles-du-neuro-developpement"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mugie S. M. Benninga M. A. Di Lorenzo C. (2011). Epidemiology of constipation in children and adults: A systematic review. Best Practice & Research Clinical Gastroenterology 25(1) 3\u201318. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.bpg.2010.12.010","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bpg.2010.12.010"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_26_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Page M. J. McKenzie J. E. Bossuyt P. M. Boutron I. Hoffmann T. C. Mulrow C. D. Shamseer L. Tetzlaff J. M. Akl E. A. Brennan S. E. Chou R. Glanville J. Grimshaw J. M. Hr\u00f3bjartsson A. Lalu M. M. Li T. Loder E. W. Mayo-Wilson E. McDonald S. . . .Moher D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 372 Article n71. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj.n71","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.n71"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Penzol M. J. Salazar de Pablo G. Llorente C. Moreno C. Hern\u00e1ndez P. Dorado M. L. Parellada M. (2019). Functional gastrointestinal disease in autism spectrum disorder: A retrospective descriptive study in a clinical sample. Frontiers in Psychiatry 10 Article 179. https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2019.00179","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2019.00179"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Saravane D. Mytych I. (2018). Douleur et autisme. Douleur et Analg\u00e9sie 31(3) Article 3. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3166\/dea-2018-0015","DOI":"10.3166\/dea-2018-0015"},{"key":"e_1_3_3_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Serra J. Pohl D. Azpiroz F. Chiarioni G. Ducrott\u00e9 P. Gourcerol G. Hungin A. P. S. Layer P. Mendive J.-M. Pfeifer J. Rogler G. Scott S. M. Simr\u00e9n M. Whorwell P. Group T. F. C. G. W. (2020). European society of neurogastroenterology and motility guidelines on functional constipation in adults. Neurogastroenterology & Motility 32(2) Article e13762. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/nmo.13762","DOI":"10.1111\/nmo.13762"}],"container-title":["Autism"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/13623613241289114","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/13623613241289114","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/13623613241289114","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,28]],"date-time":"2026-04-28T12:50:15Z","timestamp":1777380615000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/13623613241289114"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,15]]},"references-count":28,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,4]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/13623613241289114"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/13623613241289114","relation":{},"ISSN":["1362-3613","1461-7005"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1362-3613","type":"print"},{"value":"1461-7005","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,15]]}}}