Innovative methods for assessing body perception in adults with autism

Everyone thinks they know what autism is. We imagine a cliché character like the one in the film Rain Man, a kind of genius with a host of obsessive disorders as well as communication and socialization problems. Yet Rain Man presents only one aspect of the more or less exacerbated symptoms that autistic people can have. Some can mask their symptoms and go to great lengths to adapt. When we come across them, our tendency is to describe them as "peculiar", obsessive, high-strung, bordering on genius or a little "weird".

Joanna Mourad is interested in autistic people and especially in their perception of the body, which in professional jargon is called "body representations". Originally from Lebanon, she graduated as a psychomotrician in 2018 from Saint Joseph's University in Beirut. Since 2023, she has been working on a double thesis (BOF UHasselt-UNamur) in the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Medicine.

Take a few moments to observe yourself in a mirror. What does your image reflect back to you? What's the first thing you look at? Do you see your complexes, your pride? Do you move the way you want to?

Body representations, are our unique and personal mental representations. They can be objective or subjective in relation to reality or the moment, satisfying or unsatisfying, and evolve over time according to our experiences. What is certain is that our sensory and emotional experiences have a direct impact on who we are, whether in our relationships, our behaviors, or even our moods...

With autistic people, the impact on physical and mental health is even greater. This represents a real challenge, as they live on average 10 to 20 years less than other people. They also develop more cardiovascular disease due to their almost constant state of stress. The suicide rate is also 9 times higher.

This is why it's so important to better understand how autistic people perceive their bodies. Assessment techniques already exist, but they are mostly self-report questionnaires related to body image and performance.

What was missing was a holistic approach that takes behavior into account continuously and in real time.

In her article "Innovative Digital Phenotyping Method to Assess Body Representations in Autistic Adults: A Perspective on Multisensor Evaluation", Joanna Mourad collects data at a given point in time and over an extended period, and analyzes it using a combination of traditional techniques and modern tools.

This innovative approach relies on techniques such as momentary ecological assessments (in real time in everyday life) and time series analyses (via connected devices such as watches or smartphones, ...), to capture dynamics and changes in their experience over time. To process the data collected, researchers use advanced statistical tools such as multivariate regression, time series analysis and artificial intelligence algorithms. These tools provide a better understanding of the multiple factors influencing body perception in people with autism.

In developing this method, the team attaches particular importance to ethics and the involvement of the people concerned, and takes into account potential challenges, such as variable technology adoption and accessibility.

This approach revolutionizes the assessment of body perception by integrating traditional and dynamic tools, while offering a more caring assessment environment adapted to people with autism.

On November 16, 2024, Joanna Mourad was able to present her study to over 600 people during a talk at the 2nd Occitan Psychomotricity Conference in Montpelier.

In October 2024, Joanna Mourad had taken part in the training course "Autism without intellectual disability in adults and adolescents: from clinic to practice" led by Prof. Bernadette Grosjean, one of the experts on the subject. This training course was organized at the University of Namur by the centre de formation continue "Santé mentale et psychiatrie".

"It is thanks to Bernadette Grosjean that my perception of autistic people has profoundly evolved, which has transformed the way I conduct my research in the field from a neuro-affirmative perspective. I'd also like to express my gratitude to my two promoters, Martin Desseilles and Bruno Bonnechère, who have given me so much support and guidance along the way, as well as to my co-promoter Katleen Bogaerts and my support committee", explains Joanna Mourad.

Created in 1978, the Department of Psychology has carried out extensive research in various fields of the humanities, social sciences and health, with a particular focus on vulnerable people, neuroscience and eHealth.

In the humanities and social sciences, the Department has earned a national and international reputation for conducting qualitative studies of people suffering from physical or psychological disorders. It mainly provides courses for the Faculty of Medicine and, in the context of continuing education, for healthcare professionals, notably with the "Dual Diagnosis" Interuniversity Certificate, the next edition of which will take place from September 2025.