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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

25-04-2025 | Brief Report

Brief Report: Mental Health and Wellbeing Across the Autism Assessment Experience

Auteurs: Philippa Tivey, Lisa Blatchford, Phoebe Kaspar, Abbie Powell, Andrew D. R. Surtees

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Abstract

Purpose

With growing frequency, young people are referred for autism assessment following the onset of mental health difficulties, such as anxiety and depression. Understanding the nature of these difficulties and how they change through the assessment process may be crucial in providing effective support; this study provided the first longitudinal assessment of that.

Method

Twenty-seven young people and their parents/carers completed questionnaire measures of mental health, wellbeing and quality of life while waiting for an autism assessment, at the point of assessment and three months after receiving their diagnostic outcome.

Results

A range of clinically-significant mental health presentations were reported. Young people commonly reported more severe symptoms than their parents, while parents reported a more significant impact. Mental health symptoms were correlated with quality of life. There was not evidence that the potentially stressful experience of waiting for and completing an assessment negatively impacted young people’s mental health or wellbeing.

Conclusion

Young people waiting for autism assessment experience varied, enduring and impactful difficulties with mental health: comprehensive assessment is required to meet their needs. At a group-level, there is no good reason to delay autism assessment for fear of worsening mental health symptoms.

In one of the services, data were collected at a 4th timepoint, when diagnostic feedback was given. This was not possible in the other service, therefore these data are not included here.

An additional three participants consented, but never provided data.

Participants 18–25 were originally eligible for the study, completing separate measures, but only one participant in this age group took part.

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Titel: Brief Report: Mental Health and Wellbeing Across the Autism Assessment Experience
Auteurs: Philippa Tivey
Lisa Blatchford
Phoebe Kaspar
Abbie Powell
Andrew D. R. Surtees
Publicatiedatum: 25-04-2025
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-06826-8

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Brief Report: Mental Health and Wellbeing Across the Autism Assessment Experience

Abstract

Purpose

Method

Results

Conclusion

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Abstract

Purpose

Method

Results

Conclusion

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