PD and Late ASC Diagnosis in Secondary Mental Health Services

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Experiences of individuals with a diagnosis of Personality Disorder being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Condition whilst in secondary mental health services.

  • IRAS ID

    316702

  • Contact name

    Suzanne Hodge

  • Contact email

    s.hodge@lancaster.ac.uk

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    N/A, N/A

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 6 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Research Summary
    The research will explore how people with a Personality Disorder (PD) who have later been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) experience mental health services. This will include their experiences before and after the ASC diagnosis. The research will include interviews that are designed with the help of an expert by experience. The answers to the interview questions will then be looked at to see if there are any common themes. These themes will help us to understand how this group of people experience mental health services. This understanding can then inform suggestions that might improve their experiences.

    Summary of Results
    published:
    Lay summary of study results: The study found that people who were diagnosed with a personality disorder prior to being diagnosed with autism whilst under the care of secondary mental health services experienced mental health services as treating them according to their diagnostic label rather than as individuals, that people working within mental health services are experienced as having a poor understanding of personality disorder and autism, and that these individuals often disengage with mental health services following challenging experiences including stigma and having little choice over their treatment. The research also found that individuals who have these experiences hold compassion for the services they have had challenging experiences under.

  • REC name

    Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    23/YH/0192

  • Date of REC Opinion

    26 Sep 2023

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion