A Retrospective Chart Study: The Pathway to a Diagnosis for Adults Referred for ASD Assessment

Autor/inn/en	Geurts, Hilde M.; Jansen, Marcel D.
Titel	A Retrospective Chart Study: The Pathway to a Diagnosis for Adults Referred for ASD Assessment
Quelle	In: Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 16 (2012) 3, S.299-305 (7 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1362-3613
DOI	10.1177/1362361311421775
Schlagwörter	Referral; Psychosis; Autism; Emotional Disturbances; Mental Health; Identification; Program Effectiveness; Clinics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Clinical Diagnosis; Interpersonal Competence; Anxiety; Gender Differences; Incidence; Depression (Psychology) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Psychose; Autismus; Gefühlsstörung; Psychohygiene; Identifikation; Identifizierung; Interpersonale Kompetenz; Angst; Geschlechterkonflikt; Vorkommen
Abstract	Charts of 125 adults (18 to 82 years), referred to an autism expert team for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessment, were reviewed to explore the pathway to an adulthood ASD diagnosis. The participants first contacted the mental health care clinic at a median age of 19 years (range 2 to 78 years). Men contacted the clinic slightly earlier than women. The main referral reasons were social problems, feelings of anxiety and mood disturbances. The most common earlier diagnoses were anxiety and mood disorders or psychosis-related disorders. These diagnoses were more common in women than in men. Surprisingly few differences emerged between those who finally received an ASD diagnosis and those who did not. However, those with an ASD diagnosis contacted the clinic a mean of 15 years earlier and less frequently received different former diagnoses, although the type of diagnoses did not differ. The diagnostic criteria that were prevalent during early childhood of these adults did not influence their diagnostic history. A quarter of these clients were known with social problems within the mental health care system, but ASD was not assessed. Hence, the current study shows that the pathways to an adulthood ASD diagnosis are very heterogeneous. (Contains 1 table.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10