William Mandy is professor of clinical psychology at University College London. He tweets @WillClinPsy.

William Mandy
Senior Lecturer
University College London
From this contributor
In DSM-5, guidance on girls with autism is short but savvy
The DSM-5 acknowledges how gender shapes autism more than any previous diagnostic manual has, but it’s time to fold in a few new findings.

In DSM-5, guidance on girls with autism is short but savvy
To partner with autism community, welcome dissenting opinions
Giving the autism community a voice in research means engaging in meaningful dialogue, not just making token gestures.

To partner with autism community, welcome dissenting opinions
Women with autism hide complex struggles behind masks
A new study shows that women with autism are continually misunderstood, work to camouflage their true selves and face a high risk of sexual abuse.

Women with autism hide complex struggles behind masks
Book review: Meet one person with autism
Taken at face value, a new translated memoir by a child with severe autism suggests that our official consensus needs a rethink, writes clinical psychologist William Mandy.
DSM-5 may better serve girls with autism
The newest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders overtly acknowledges that females with autism may have features that differ from those of males with the disorder, says William Mandy.
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Emotion research has a communication conundrum
In 2025, the words we use to describe emotions matter, but their definitions are controversial. Here, I unpack the different positions in this space and the rationales behind them—and I invite 13 experts to chime in.

Emotion research has a communication conundrum
In 2025, the words we use to describe emotions matter, but their definitions are controversial. Here, I unpack the different positions in this space and the rationales behind them—and I invite 13 experts to chime in.
Autism-linked copy number variants always boost autism likelihood
By contrast, varied doses of the same genes decrease or increase the odds of five other conditions, with distinct biological consequences, two new preprints show.

Autism-linked copy number variants always boost autism likelihood
By contrast, varied doses of the same genes decrease or increase the odds of five other conditions, with distinct biological consequences, two new preprints show.
Everything everywhere all at once: Decision-making signals engage entire brain
The findings, gleaned from the most comprehensive map yet of brain activity during decision-making in mice, show that the process is even more distributed than previously thought.

Everything everywhere all at once: Decision-making signals engage entire brain
The findings, gleaned from the most comprehensive map yet of brain activity during decision-making in mice, show that the process is even more distributed than previously thought.