Looking at Insight in individuals with Asperger’s Disorder.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Qualitative Study: Looking at Insight in individuals with Asperger’s Disorder.
IRAS ID
142746
Contact name
Rozmin Halari
Contact email
Research summary
This is a qualitative research study which will look at insight into diagnosis in 6 male patient’s with Asperger’s disorder.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterised by impairments in social communication and imagination. ASD’s are one of the many psychiatric illnesses in which individuals may demonstrate poor insight. Much of the empirical research conducted in the area of insight has focused on individuals with schizophrenia (Amador et al. 1994,1993; Quee et al. 2011, leaving the concept of insight into illness in Autism a deprived area in current research literature
This pilot study will examine the levels of insight into diagnosis in 6 patients from a specialist step-down ward for individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
All the participants will be aged between 18-50, with an I.Q of over 70 or over with a diagnosis of Asperger’s disorder. The interviews will take place at Cygnet Hospital Harrow, in a room of the participants’ choice if deemed appropriate.
The data will be collected through administering semi-structured interviews with the participants. The interview protocol will include a series of open ended questions which will aim to explore the patients’ understanding of their diagnosis, the difficulties that they experience day to day and how they have learned to deal with these difficulties. Each interview will aim to be 1 hour in length, however if a participant requests a break, this will be facilitated and the interview will continue at a later time.
The research will be published and presented at conferences about Autism. It will also contribute to educating professionals and the public about the implications that a lack of insight can have in individuals with Autism and how these can be addressed.REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0882
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion