Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) bij autisme: feit of fictie?
This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.
About the autistic author markervan Asselt, A. (2026). Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) bij autisme: feit of fictie? Wetenschappelijk Tijdschrift Autisme, 25(1), 24-34. https://doi.org/10.36254/wta.2026.1.03
- Journal or book title
- Wetenschappelijk Tijdschrift Autisme
- Publisher
- SWP Publishers BV
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 24-34
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Authors
Abstract
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.
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