Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) bij autisme: feit of fictie?

Rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) has gained increasing attention within autistic communities. The term refers to extreme social (emotional) pain responses to perceived rejection, criticism, and bullying. Th e American psychiatrist William Dodson introduced the concept based on his clinical experience, suggesting that the social pain responses in people with ADHD diff er from those in other groups. In this essay, I analyse six potential arguments for the existence of RSD in people with autism: four derived from Dodson’ descriptions of RSD and two from the scientifi c literature. Although autistic people may be more sensitive to social pain, there is currently no convincing evidence that these responses represent a quantitatively or qualitatively unique phenomenon. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge their social pain experiences and to research how to prevent and alleviate them.