Abstract
Background.
Neurodiverse diagnoses (NDs) are currently assessed through a variety of educational and/or medical pathways, all of which typically derive categorical diagnoses based on traditional diagnostic classification systems. However, converging research evidence has shown that this conventional approach inadequately captures the individual variation and overlaps that are commonly observed across NDs in their underlying dimensions. The purpose of this study is to build upon the emerging quantitative research framework, through adopting a transdiagnostic dimensional approach to characterising the complexity of the cognitive and affective dimensions that underpin broadly sampled NDs.
Methods.
A cohort of approximately 200 individuals (aged 16–50), who had been referred for assessment and/or sought help from support services for suspected or previously diagnosed developmental differences, is being recruited using convenience sampling. The cognitive domains of executive function, language, attention, processing speed and memory are being assessed using the National Institute of Health (NIH) Cognition Toolbox©. A mental health battery consisting of the Extended Strengths and Weaknesses Assessment of Normal Behaviour (E-SWAN), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Emotion Regulation Skills Questionnaire (ERSQ) is being administered to provide additional information on the internalising, externalising and emotion regulation dimensions of the affective difficulties that commonly co-occur with NDs. Data reduction techniques, clustering and dynamic network modelling, will be used to identify and explore the interactions between data-driven transdiagnostic clusters of individual cognitive and mental health profiles.
Discussion
. This study protocol allows for the exploration of developmental difficulties that cut across diagnostic boundaries, offering the potential to more precisely characterise the mechanisms underlying the complexity of NDs (in terms of co-occurring conditions, between-diagnosis overlaps and individual variation), beyond that offered by traditional case-control study designs. Ultimately, transdiagnostic research may provide the opportunity to identify individual areas of need that may serve as targets for future interventions, and potentially aid in enhancing diagnostic sensitivity to a variety of NDs.