Undiagnosed psychiatrists missing Autism in their clients

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ASPartOfMe
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02 Nov 2024, 6:12 pm

Autistic psychiatrists who don't know they're autistic may fail to spot autism in patients

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Pioneering research exploring the experiences of autistic psychiatrists has revealed that psychiatrists who are unaware that they themselves are autistic may fail to recognize the condition in their patients. The study, conducted by researchers from University College Dublin, London South Bank University, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, is the first of its kind to delve into the lives of neurodivergent psychiatrists. It was published today in BJPsych Open.

The research team, comprised of medical professionals and academics who are neurodivergent themselves, conducted in-depth interviews with eight senior UK-based psychiatrists, six of whom are consultants, working across the NHS. Their specialties ranged from Child and Adolescent Mental Health to adult services, including intellectual disability.

The study explored how these psychiatrists came to realize they were autistic, often through personal experiences such as their child's diagnosis or by recognizing similarities between themselves and autistic patients. Remarkably, some were even identified as autistic by their own patients.

Once self-recognition occurred, the psychiatrists began to notice that many of their colleagues—especially those specializing in autism or ADHD—might also be autistic but unaware. This lack of awareness can have serious implications, as psychiatrists may inadvertently miss the diagnosis in autistic patients. However, once aware of their own neurodivergence, the psychiatrists found it easier to recognize autism in others and build strong therapeutic relationships.

The study also revealed that understanding their own autism had a positive impact on the psychiatrists' self-esteem and mental health. However, the researchers pointed out that many patients miss out on this benefit when assessed by psychiatrists who, while sharing their experiences, do not recognize they are also autistic.

Dr. Sebastian Shaw, senior author and Lecturer in Medical Education at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, added, "This research not only sheds light on the experiences of autistic psychiatrists but also demonstrates the unique advantages they bring to the field. Through self-awareness, their ability to connect with autistic patients greatly improves."

Future studies are expected to explore why none of the psychiatrists in this study disclosed their autism openly, as well as the broader impact of this recognition on patient care and clinical practice.

The study will be presented at Thinking Differently: The Royal College of Psychiatrists Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry Special Interest Group Winter Conference which takes place in Brighton on December 11, 2024.


Autistic psychiatrists’ experiences of recognising themselves and others as autistic: a qualitative study

I sm glad this is being reconized.


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funeralxempire
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03 Nov 2024, 1:37 am

This makes sense and I'm glad it's being considered.


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Gentleman Argentum
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03 Nov 2024, 5:19 am

ASPartOfMe wrote:
Pioneering research exploring the experiences of autistic psychiatrists has revealed that psychiatrists who are unaware that they themselves are autistic may fail to recognize the condition in their patients.


I don't remember ever being screened for autism or identified as such back in 1985. I think HFA slipped under the radar for a long time in psychology.

It is only when I look back in retrospect through the lens of "faulty/slow/inhibited social awareness and social processing" that things began to make sense to me and fit together like pieces to a puzzle. I wish that one of the many counselors that spent time with me could have put 2 and 2 together, and shared that information with me right away, along with a self-help book full of information about how to thrive as someone with HFA.

Since we are good at rule-based systems and that is how we adapt to social structures, a self-help book would be just the ticket.


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Double Retired
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03 Nov 2024, 3:45 pm

I guess it makes sense an unknowingly Autistic psychiatrist would think an Autistic patient was acting normal.


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MatchboxVagabond
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10 Nov 2024, 12:53 pm

Double Retired wrote:
I guess it makes sense an unknowingly Autistic psychiatrist would think an Autistic patient was acting normal.


Same goes for parents of autistic adults that were never diagnosed. It's a major flaw when they require that the traits show up early on when the only source of information is likely the parents. Especially for anybody that grew up prior to the DSM IV adding a bunch of new autism related diagnoses to look for. Even if one didn't fall into any of those categories clearly, there was at least some reason for the teachers, parents and others to keep track of that stuff.

There's a gap of about 10 years between where they'll permit things to be considered a develomental disorder and when it can be a personality disorder and depending upon when the traits/symptoms show up, you can get somebody that's more or less the same to all appearances being diagnosed as one or the other. Even though the treatment and the stuff that's involved may not vary at all.



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10 Nov 2024, 5:43 pm

Double Retired wrote:
I guess it makes sense an unknowingly Autistic psychiatrist would think an Autistic patient was acting normal.


That makes me curious about how they were thinking the NT patients were acting.


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10 Nov 2024, 6:42 pm

BillyTree wrote:
Double Retired wrote:
I guess it makes sense an unknowingly Autistic psychiatrist would think an Autistic patient was acting normal.


That makes me curious about how they were thinking the NT patients were acting.


:roll: Ahem:

DoubleRetired wrote:
When diagnosed I bought champagne!
I finally knew why people were strange.

:wink: I'm not a shrink, but I suspect that might be the correct answer.


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