Autistic Traits in Doctors: A Cross-sectional Study of Doctors Seeking Mental Health Support

Background Neurodevelopmental conditions are increasingly recognised as important to understanding mental health difficulties. However, the presence of autism among doctors experiencing mental health problems remains underexplored. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of autistic traits among doctors seeking mental health support and examine associations with demographic characteristics, medical speciality, and co-occurring mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of self-reported data from doctors who accessed NHS Practitioner Health between April and July 2024. The Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ-10) screened for autistic traits, alongside validated measures of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), psychological distress (CORE-10), and ADHD traits (ASRS-6). Logistic regression was used to assess associations with demographic, clinical, and speciality variables. Results Of the 946 doctors included, 13.6% screened positive for autism using the AQ-10. Positive screening was significantly associated with male gender (OR = 1.68, p = 0.008), age 22–29 (OR = 1.84, p = 0.016), working in psychiatry (OR = 2.48, p = 0.010), and surgical specialities (OR = 2.07, p = 0.037). AQ-10 positivity was also associated with significantly higher odds of anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and screening positive for ADHD. Discussion This study found a notably high prevalence of autistic traits among UK doctors seeking mental health support which raises the possibilities of under-recognition and possible masking within this workforce. Associations with gender, specialty, and co-occurring psychiatric symptoms highlight the need for earlier identification and tailored support systems. Findings are limited by reliance on self-report screening and a restricted sample of doctors actively seeking psychological support, limiting generalisability. Nevertheless, this study provides novel insights into neurodiversity in medicine. Conclusions A substantial proportion of doctors seeking mental health support screened positive for autistic traits with notable psychiatric and other neurodevelopmental comorbidity. These findings highlight the importance of considering underlying autism when assessing and supporting doctors with mental health difficulties.