Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct faculty typically have an academic or research appointment at another institution and contribute or collaborate with one or more School of Medicine faculty members or programs.
Adjunct rank detailsRachel Loftin
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of MedicineAbout
Research
Publications
2026
A Pilot Study of Telehealth-Delivered Autism-Adapted CBT and Neurodivergent-Led Groups: Preliminary Evidence for Mood, Anxiety, Relationship and Quality of Life Improvements in Autistic Adults
Whaling K, Veed G, Loftin R. A Pilot Study of Telehealth-Delivered Autism-Adapted CBT and Neurodivergent-Led Groups: Preliminary Evidence for Mood, Anxiety, Relationship and Quality of Life Improvements in Autistic Adults. Neurodiversity 2026, 4 DOI: 10.1177/27546330251408867.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCognitive behavioral therapyAutistic adultsPsychoeducational groupsQuality of lifeMental health servicesMental health organizationsOverall quality of lifeAutistic peopleOnline therapyIndividualized therapyHealth servicesComprehensive careIndividual therapy sessionsPeer-led support groupsEnglish-speaking adultsMental health disparitiesMental health researchMental health interventionsQuality-of-life domainsNon-autistic peopleSocial relationshipsOverall qualityCommunity-based interventionsMental health careTelehealth delivery modelFamily and Clinician Perspectives About How Autism and Extremism Intersect
Wijekoon S, Robison J, Welch C, Westphal A, Loftin R, Jachyra P, Perry B, Rombos V, Picciolini C, Bosyj C, Senman L, Baron-Cohen S, Penner M. Family and Clinician Perspectives About How Autism and Extremism Intersect. Autism In Adulthood 2026 DOI: 10.1177/25739581251412666.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOnline spacesInternet algorithmsComplex identitiesDigital literacyAutistic peopleContext of riskSocial vulnerabilityExtreme beliefsSelf-imageRabbit holeLife circumstancesSense of exclusionHealthcare providersBlack-and-white thinkingSocial mediaNegative self-imageOnline activitiesIdentity issuesExtremist groupsHate groupsIdeologyPeople's strugglePositive self-imageMarginalized identitiesSocial cognition
2025
Streamlining Adult Autism Diagnosis: High-yield DSM-5-TR Predictors and Sex-Based Considerations
Whaling K, Crehan E, Loftin R. Streamlining Adult Autism Diagnosis: High-yield DSM-5-TR Predictors and Sex-Based Considerations. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders 2025, 1-15. PMID: 41171546, DOI: 10.1007/s10803-025-07101-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSocial-emotional reciprocityAutism diagnosisDSM-5-TR criteriaNonverbal communicationDSM-5-TRSensory processing differencesEnglish-speaking adultsMental health service providersLicensed psychologistsRepetitive behaviorsProcessing differencesAutism evaluationSymptom presentationAutismRelationship differencesStandardized measuresStructured interviewsPsychologistsCommunication domainHealth service providersConclusionsThese findingsMethodsA teamInteraction effectsAdultsPredictable pattern
2024
Neurodivergence and the Rabbit Hole of Extremism: Uncovering Lived Experience
Wijekoon S, Robison J, Welch C, Westphal A, Loftin R, Perry B, Rombos V, Picciolini C, Bosyj C, Senman L, Jachyra P, Baron-Cohen S, Penner M. Neurodivergence and the Rabbit Hole of Extremism: Uncovering Lived Experience. Autism In Adulthood 2024, 8: 102-111. PMID: 42369096, PMCID: PMC13294708, DOI: 10.1089/aut.2023.0192.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
ECHO autism adult healthcare: Training community clinicians to provide quality care for autistic adults
Malow B, Mazurek M, Stobbe G, Agrawal M, Loftin R, Caudel D, Hess A, Westphal A, Smith J, Shouse J, Cheak‐Zamora N, Sohl K. ECHO autism adult healthcare: Training community clinicians to provide quality care for autistic adults. Autism Research 2023, 16: 1619-1629. PMID: 37519223, DOI: 10.1002/aur.2996.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAutistic adultsSelf-EfficacyCommunity Healthcare OutcomesBest-practice careUnmet healthcare needsSystems of careTraining community cliniciansQuality careHealthcare outcomesHealthcare needsCommunity cliniciansComprehensive careHealthcare modelConsecutive cohortCarePilot studyKnowledge gainAdultsCohortParticipantsSessionsTrainingSatisfactionAutism ProgramCohort 1Editorial: Training in Autism Among First Responders
Woodbury-Smith M, Westphal A, Loftin R. Editorial: Training in Autism Among First Responders. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders 2023, 54: 1233-1234. PMID: 36626006, DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05855-x.Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
2022
Understanding the Use of the Term “Weaponized Autism” in An Alt-Right Social Media Platform
Welch C, Senman L, Loftin R, Picciolini C, Robison J, Westphal A, Perry B, Nguyen J, Jachyra P, Stevenson S, Aggarwal J, Wijekoon S, Baron-Cohen S, Penner M. Understanding the Use of the Term “Weaponized Autism” in An Alt-Right Social Media Platform. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders 2022, 53: 4035-4046. PMID: 35947316, PMCID: PMC10499683, DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05701-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVulnerability to Ideologically-Motivated Violence Among Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Woodbury-Smith MR, Loftin R, Westphal A, Volkmar FR. Vulnerability to Ideologically-Motivated Violence Among Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2022, 13: 873121. PMID: 35401260, PMCID: PMC8990964, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.873121.Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
2021
Violence Risk Assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Westphal A, Loftin R. Violence Risk Assessment in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 2021, 453-469. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-70913-6_22.ChaptersSexual Offending and ASD
Loftin R. Sexual Offending and ASD. 2021, 257-267. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-70913-6_12.Books