The extent of GP ignorance about autism is high

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I agree with this statement. I understand the concern that GP's don't know a lot, but in all honesty GP's have an ever growing list of conditions they need to be made aware of, and the truth is no one can be an encyclopedia-- not even those with eidetic memory can know it all. I think the problem here is that some countries use them as gatekeepers for mental health services, which for the most part are a completely different type of medicine than physical medicine. Perhaps those countries need a position that's a general practitioner of mental health as a gatekeeper for psychological services.

Good article. I'd like to hope that it will lead to some action, but somehow I have my doubts. My own experience is that most GPs don't understand ASD. The one I saw when I went to ask for a referral to diagnose the condition knew enough about it to warn me that even with the diagnosis I'd never know for sure whether I really was an Aspie (she'd asked me why I wanted the DX, and I'd said among other things that I wanted to know). That and other things leads me to think that she knew enough about ASD to be a gatekeeper and to apply relatively gentle discouragement to my request. After the DX she said all I could expect from the NHS would be antidepressants and sedatives and then she looked uncomfortable when I didn't respond or change my expression. I know for a fact that the diagnostician sent the practice a list of ways in which they could adjust the way they dealt with me as an Aspie, but I've seen no adjustments, so it looks like they're not interested. Follow the money and their behaviour isn't really surprising.

In Britain (and I guess the same is true of NZ) the gp can be a virtual guard dog and not informed at all about ASD. In Britain there should be a local action plan thing that goes on about a "clear pathway to diagnosis", but my "pathway to diagnosis" was very difficult.

The first step as an adult in seeking diagnosis is finding a gp who will take you seriously. From experience, I have found the best gps to be those who have training in Obstetrics (you find the letters Obst. after their name). My guess is that these doctors have learnt about post natal depression and the devastation it can cause, so it is possible they can have some understanding.

The people who hinted at the possibility of my aspergers were not medically qualified at all, but people who had encountered aspies in their work.

I have a cynical attitude towards the therapy industry.

I had my final diagnostic session recently. I was told I score very high. Apparently I'm a classic case of Asperger's.

The person doing my assessment mentioned that most people he sees who qualify for an Asperger's diagnosis, tend to score very high; this seems to suggest that the people with milder symptoms are never referred.

This is possibly different in the US, considering that people with money can bypass some of the gatekeepers.

Isn't that true about the UK as well, there are private doctors who will see you and totally bypass the National Health Service?

In Connecticut there are different levels of Healthcare available for those who have really good health insurance and can additionally afford to pay out of pocket. Typically you need health insurance to see good providers. Once you prove that you are a customer that can pay then you can get referrals to more exclusive doctors.

In the UK you can pay for a private diagnosis, which costs round about 600 GBP, but authorities are not required to recognise it.

If you have a dx from a doctor paid for by the NHS, that counts in the eyes of the authorities. If you have a dx by the same doctor and pay privately, that doesn't count.

by doctor in the above post in the NHS context, I mean a consultant psychiatrist, NHS recognised clinical psychologist or neurologist, and preferably all three with a side car of occupational therapist.

Gps do not diagnose aspies.

Both y'all have a point.

Yup, pretty much. I was on the waiting list for a NHS DX but went private rather than wait, and chose a clinical psychologist rather than a psychiatrist to reduce the risk of getting shoehorned into some personality disorder DX with inappropriate psych meds. My diagnostician didn't require any referral (some do), and recommended but didn't insist on my lodging the DX with my GP, to increase the chances of it carrying weight with my employer. Meanwhile the NHS referral came up - the shrink cancelled that when they noticed I'd already had it done, but wrote to the GP recommending specific adjustments, which was kind of decent of them.

My private DXer reckoned her DX would be as valid as a NHS one because she also did NHS work DXing ASD, and while that makes perfect sense, the "authorities" often have their own bizarre version of reality which is biased against spending money. Anyway, what I got was enough to get my (university) employer off my back, but not enough to get them to make the specific adjustments I'd have needed to be fully included as an equal employee. So I quit as soon as I could afford to, and didn't take the gamble of sueing them. Sorry for veering off topic, OP, but it might help people to understand the way the system works, and to plan their battle - and I think it often is a battle - wisely, at least in the UK, and perhaps to some extent in any other country. Like I said, follow the money.

Good post ToughDiamond, and interesting to meet someone who was dx'd late in the UK like myself. By using the word authorities I mean the local council, PCT, DWP and so forth who will as you say do ANYTHING WHATSOEVER to not spend money. Mainly using the word as I reckon most people on here are American, and have no experience of the curious political state of England which hovers precipitously between partially dismantled Socialism and a jungle full of a***holes IMO.

So, if there are any undiagnosed adults in Britain who just want to know whether they are aspie or not, a private dx is fine, though expensive. If you see a future where confronting the authorities in court might be on the cards, an NHS dx is required.

"the "authorities" often have their own bizarre version of reality" - indeed, my initial encounter with my local PCT was like something written by Franz Kafka set in Alice in Wonderland.

Likewise, good to meet you too Just for completeness, my DX was in 2009 or thereabouts. Doesn't look like GP awareness has improved much in the last 8 years