Research on community integration in autism spectrum disorder: Recommendations from research on psychosis

Abstract

Both individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and individuals with a psychotic disorder have difficulties integrating in the community. By means of a systematic review of the literature on community integration of young people with ASD or psychotic disorders, we aimed to unfold research foci and gaps within the ASD literature. As anticipated, research on community integration was more advanced in the field of psychosis compared to ASD. In this paper we highlight those areas of community integration that have received particularly little attention in ASD research, such as stigmatization, and we formulate research recommendations for ASD researchers based on the research conducted in the psychosis field. The outcomes of this systematic review demonstrate a need for more practical research focused on the daily lives of adolescents and adults with ASD.