My family Dr referred me to a psychiatrist: What to ask?

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Hi,

I have no offical diagnosis of Asperger's.

My family doctor has finally referred me to a psychiatrist so I could better explore issues related to ADHD and OCD ---

However, relating to Asperger's, what should I ask the psychiatrist?

Do I even bring Asperger's up (e.g, sensory processing issues, social problems)?

Or, do I let my soon-to-be psychiatrist "discover" my Asperger issues on his own?

Also, what can I expect?

I live in Canada, Ontario, city of Toronto, if that helps.

Thanks.

Someone on this site told me that psychiatrists aren't the best people to go to for an Asperger's diagnosis, since they don't know about it. They told me that it's better to find someone who specializes in ASD.

My psychiatrist basically tried to label me with multiple conditions (ADHD, OCD, social anxiety), when it would've been easier to say that I had AS. When I realized that and brought Asperger's up, she didn't think I have it at all for absurd reasons, when it was only our first appointment, and the topic was never brought up again. It proved that she didn't know much about the condition.

I don't know what you should ask. Try bringing up problems that relate to Apserger's like you said, like sensory processing issues and see where it goes from there.

I think you might get more progress if you found a specialist, but I can't say I'm telling you that from experience. It's just something that someone told me.

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Ok. Thanks. I guess I'll get a referral from my soon to be psychiatrist? THE PROCESS IS SO ANNOYING.

Thanks though.

I would bring a list of reasons why you think you have aspergers and bring it in. They'll probably ask some related questions about the list, and then ask other questions to see if they can rule out aspergers. You can ask them for a referral to a specialist, which will happen regardless. But I believe they have to think it's possible you have it. If you get a jerk psychiatrist, then you might be out of luck and have to find another one.

My experience is that if you wait for them to discover it themselves, you better take some sandwiches (ie you'll be waiting a loooooong time). If you suspect you have AS ask them to assess you for it. I did and I got assessed and a diagnosis (after waiting 20 years for them to discover it.)

I would just straight out ask them about it, and if they don't specialize in autism / Asperger's diagnosis, ask for a referral to someone who does.

Bring up/ask about AS, as the OCD etc might be a co-morbidity or it might not be true OCD and it is just a symptom of AS.

If you do not bring up AS, the doctor might not consider it. The doc might not feel qualified to diagnose AS or to differentiate AS from OCD/ADHD and might refer you to a clinical psychologist who knows more about ASD (this is what happened to me).

Yeah, before I got the psychiatrist right now I had a temp psychiatrist and he said it was just a label anyway when I asked him about it, then he said to look through my school records and bring them in next time I saw him. I tried to get a hold of my school records but the school gets rid of them after 5 years and it had been 7 years since I graduated. I got transferred to a new psychiatrist after my hospital stay during the summer. She's been on extended leave since October which I think is ridiculous. She's coming back in May and I plan to ask her about it but I'm not getting my hopes up with these wonderful psychiatrists that they have here in Ontario.

I was interested in the same thing as the OP. If anyone knows of any good places in Ontario, preferably in or close to the Durham Region that will diagnose me for free or for very cheap then I'm interested.