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Diagnosis

NAS37401

Hi there, I wonder if I'm alone?  I plucked up the courage to go and see my GP regarding a diagnosis for autism.  She was very unsupportive but referred me to the Psychiatrist.  I went to the appointment and he dismissed my enquiry immediately.  I came away feeling very dissatisfied but also feeling very silly, I still can't get the whole thing out of my mind, I mean they must know what they're talking about as they're the experts but I still feel I don't belong and every time I read something about adults with late diagnosis and what they went through it strikes a chord with my own experiences. Is there any point in trying again? I'm not sure if I can.

  • before I went to my gp I did the AQ 50 online and took it with me. I also made sure he referred me to the local Asperger service, not just a psychiatrist. I am very surprised that the psychiatrist just dismissed you after 1 appointment. Surely he should have got you to complete the AQ50, the EQ50 and the relatives questionnaire before he made your appointment, so he can use these as a focal point for discussion. I really think you should see a different GP and get him to refer you someone who is experienced in ASC

  • NAS37401 said:
    they must know what they're talking about as they're the experts

    I wouldn’t be so sure about this, for example every psychiatrist I have ever seen has had no understanding of autism whatsoever and they have been incredibly dismissive regarding my mental health problems, to the point of blatantly lying about what I said in our meetings in letters to my GP. I can only conclude that they do not want to diagnose anybody with anything because that would cost something and they would then be obliged to support that person in some way.

    As for seeing a different psychiatrist, it’s difficult to know if this would be a good idea or not - you could get someone much better and more willing to assess you properly, or you could unfortunately experience the same again. Of course, you could go privately and at least that way they should be less inclined to dismiss you out of hand, but there is cost involved there. As your GP was unsupportive, perhaps you should try seeing a different GP to see if they will listen to you more regarding this and therefore be able to advise you on what would be best to do next.

    If nobody is taking you seriously, then sadly it may fall to you to push to get a diagnosis. I would suggest getting a copy of the diagnostic criteria and outlining in detail how you fit this criteria, then insisting that you be properly assessed for autism by someone who understands the condition fully (because as I say, a lot of psychiatrists don’t, and therefore will probably dismiss you as not autistic). 

    This thread may also interest you:

    http://community.autism.org.uk/f/adults-on-the-autistic-spectrum/12352/different-diagnostic-methods-give-vastly-different-results