Autistic burnout: Early insights from a systematic review on characteristics, precipitating factors, and protective...

Despite sustained advocacy by autistic individuals over the years, autism research has largely overlooked autistic burnout, a critical but understudied phenomenon. Recently, scientific research has begun to address this gap. This systematic review of literature aims to consolidate scientific knowledge about autistic burnout. The objectives of this study are to provide a comprehensive overview of the known characteristics of autistic burnout, its precipitating factors and strategies for recovery and to clarify how it differs from depression.

Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines we searched PubMed, PsychINFO, and Web of Science in January 2025 to identify articles that fit our study goals. Some inclusion and exclusion criteria were determined for this review. We appraised the quality of studies with a Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. A qualitative analysis was conducted based on the final selected articles.

Thirteen articles met inclusion criteria, revealing key characteristics of autistic burnout. Autistic burnout is characterized by a range of symptoms including mental and physical exhaustion, and impairment in cognitive capacities, particularly executive functions. Furthermore, significant impacts on mental health were reported with self-injury and suicidal ideation. Current research conceptualized autistic burnout as a chronic condition with emerging evidence distinguishing it from depression. Key factors precipitating autistic burnout included masking, social interaction and exposure to stressors. Recovery strategies for autistic individuals often emphasized increased self-awareness of personal need and seeking support within an autistic community. However, some studies suggested that not all individuals fully recover from autistic burnout or might benefit from targeted therapeutic interventions.

This review highlights the lack of knowledge among professionals about autistic burnout and emphasizes the detrimental impact this can have on patient care. Autistic burnout being a new study subject, further research is necessary to deepen conceptual clarity and explore the nuanced dimensions of this phenomenon. Future work should strive to improve representativity in their study.