Autism - FOI Response Register

From the period 1st June 2014 to present –

1. The number of individuals diagnosed with autism who were first misdiagnosed with a mental illness and admitted to mental health wards.

CAMHS – Someone can have autism and present with mental illness.  However, the answer for our service is 0.  All admissions since 2014 were due to significant mental illness (whether they had co existing neurodevelopmental difficulties or not). 

2. A breakdown of the mental illnesses these individuals were misdiagnosed with.

CAMHS N/A

3. The average duration of stay for these individuals in the mental health wards.

 N/A

4. The procedures in place for reassessment and diagnosis of individuals initially diagnosed with a mental illness but later found to have autism.

CAMHS – any young person within our service who is thought to have autism along with a mental health condition is referred to the ASD pathway – CAMHS clinicians would take the lead on this assessment within the pathway

5. Any training or guidelines provided to mental health professionals regarding the identification and differentiation of autism and mental illnesses.

CAMHS – our clinicians are trained in mental health assessment.  The clinicians within the ASD pathway are fully trained in assessing for Autism.

6. Details of any formal complaints or appeals made by patients or their families concerning the misdiagnosis of mental illness and subsequent admission to mental health wards.

N/A