Journal 19/25

1. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) : A powerful sociotrancultural tool for detecting difficulties and supporting populations with intellectual disabilities

The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) is a scientifically validated behavioral assessment tool, developed in 1985 to identify problematic behaviors in individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). It comprises 58 items grouped into five dimensions:

• F1: Irritability and Agitation

• F2: Social Withdrawal

• F3: Stereotyped Behavior

• F4: Hyperactivity and Noncompliance

• F5: Inappropriate Speech

Each item is rated on a scale from 0 (no problem) to 3 (severe problem) by a proxy respondent, typically a family member or professional who interacts daily with the individual being assessed. The rating reflects behaviors observed during the week before the assessment.

The ABC does not require the presence of the individual being assessed, nor does it demand advanced technical expertise. It can be completed in 10 to 20 minutes, and its user-friendly format makes it accessible to staff with minimal or no formal training, provided they have received basic instruction in its use.

3. Metaphor, what place does it have in art therapy ?

Metaphor has its place in art therapy; it helps people with disabilities to understand difficult situations. It offers pathways to overcome those situations by engaging creative processes, such as chalk drawing. It acts as an emergency exit, unlocking emotional suffering.

Art therapy is a therapeutic approach particularly beneficial for individuals with sensory, motor, or mental disabilities. The use of artistic forms supports the individual by shifting focus away from their disability and difficulties, placing them in a different dimension from everyday life, one where they can evolve freely and “forget” their limitations.

In a world where everything moves too fast, like a train rushing forward. In a world overwhelmed by social media, where human beings must find their place. A place not defined by perfection, where a person must, through their self, their image, their emotions, and their sensations, find where they belong. Just as art therapy finds its place in this fast-paced world, I repeat myself, but everything becomes a repetition. The information we receive is repetitive, and our workdays become repetitive.

5. The female autism phenotype without intellectual disability: clinical profile and issues of underdiagnosis (Part I)

This work was carried out as a student at the University of Lausanne (UNIL), under the supervision of Dr. Gloria Repond.

This thesis explores the clinical, diagnostic, and social factors contributing to the underdiagnosis of autism in women without intellectual disability. Through a literature review, it highlights the specificities of the female autism phenotype, often characterized by active social camouflaging strategies, interests perceived as more socially normative, strong relational motivation, and an internalized presentation of the condition.

These features, although typical of female autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are rarely identified by standard diagnostic tools, which were historically developed based on male profiles. This clinical invisibility often leads to secondary diagnoses—such as anxiety disorders, depression, or eating disorders—delaying access to appropriate support.

The thesis also emphasizes the theoretical and methodological limitations of current models in recognizing less typical forms of autism.

Drawing on clinical and sociological data, this work advocates for a more gender- and intersectionality-sensitive approach to ASD assessment. It offers concrete recommendations: revising diagnostic criteria, integrating subjective experience, adapting assessment tools, and raising awareness among professionals about these still largely unrecognized profiles.