How a neurodevelopmental perspective can inform precision psychiatry in autism

Sensory distress experienced by over 90% of autistic people impacts education, employment, and healthcare; drives mental health problems; erodes Quality of Life; and contributes to €258 billion annual cost to the EU in lost productivity. A major priority for autistic people, by taking a neurodevelopmental perspective, we are making progress. Alterations in brain sensory systems at birth are upstream of broader autistic outcomes and studies in autistic adults confirm this arises from GABAergic imbalance but is restored by the GABAb receptor agonist, arbaclofen. Capturing individual arbaclofen responsivity brings hope for greater precision in sensory management and improved Quality of Life.

Speakers

Professor Grainne McAlonan, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre

Funding

RCPsych International Congress is financially supported by the purchase of exhibition stand packages. A full list of confirmed exhibitors can be found here: Exhibiting Organisations at International Congress 2026

Availability

This webinar is part of the Congress webinar 2026 package. If you attended all four days of Congress, you will have access to these as part of your Congress package. Otherwise the Congress webinar 2026 package can be purchased below.