Autistic Burnout: What, When, Why – and What YOU Can Do About It Part 1 Workshop with Dr. Liliya Bakiyeva Wheatcraft

Autistic Burnout is a complex phenomenon that is only just gaining recognition as a clinical syndrome. As it’s obvious from the name, it affects autistic people – though, strictly speaking, anyone with any kind of NeuroDevelopmental condition is liable to experience it at least once in their lifetime. Often unrecognised, it gets misdiagnosed as “stress”, “depression”, “burnout” or even “catatonic stupor”. Although it shares many symptoms and signs with all these (and many other) conditions, it has specifics demanding differences in approach to treatment, rehabilitation and prevention. This workshop is a two-part event, with the first part dedicated to outlining the background, the natural history of the phenomenon and the diagnosis in practice. The second part, two weeks later, will discuss the successful approaches to treatment and prevention (primary & secondary). The evidence base underlying the workshop is discussed throughout. N.B. This is an interactive workshop; the participants will be asked to participate in the discussion during the webinars, and complete a questionnaire and a reflection piece within a week after each webinar (expected total time investment is 0.5 – 1.0 hour MAXIMUM, in addition to the ≈ 4 hrs in-classroom activity).

Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event

• Will be able to discuss the theoretical and practical neuroscience evidence underlying the phenomenon of Autistic Burnout.
• Learn to identify symptoms and signs of autistic burnout, and to discuss the possible options of differential diagnosis.
• Discuss optimising AB treatment and rehabilitation as appropriate for each individual patient, and draw up a plan for preventing AB: whether talking about the primary presentation, or a relapse.

Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?

• MH HCPs working with Autistic/ND individuals.

How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?

• Giving you the necessary tools to diagnose and treat AB, as well as the preventative approaches.