A vivência do luto por indivíduos autistas: uma revisão sistemática com análise bibliométrica

Abstract

This study investigated the experience of grief in autistic adults, considering their cognitive, emotional, and social particularities. A systematic literature review with bibliometric analysis was conducted, examining 15 articles published between 2020 and 2025, sourced from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Results indicate that research on this topic is recent and still underexplored, mainly concentrated in English-speaking countries. Studies show that autistic adults experience grief in a unique way, with strong attachment to predictability, difficulties in emotional expression, and a tendency to develop prolonged or spectral grief. These manifestations are often misinterpreted by family members and professionals, leading to emotional invalidation and the invisibilization of suffering. Late diagnosis and the need for personalized rituals also emerge as relevant factors in the grieving process for this group. The study concludes that grief in autism is legitimate but presents unique nuances that require individualized, sensitive, and neurodiversity-aligned therapeutic approaches. The study highlights the importance of expanding scientific research on this topic, especially in Latin American contexts, to promote more inclusive practices and the development of specialized support for grieving autistic adults.