Have you found it difficult to get an autism diagnosis?

Question

A close friend of mine strongly suspects he's autistic and is trying to find professional help to confirm or deny this. Unfortunately, he is finding it IMPOSSIBLE to find anyone willing to help him. The mental health services that he's turning to pretty much refuse to get him the assistance he wants. They' will only provide a therapist who's not licensed to diagnose AS and a psychiatrist who does nothing beyond prescribing meds, something that he finds marginally helpful at best.

Have you found the same problem (unhelpful mental health professionals)? If not, how were you able to find a professional who was actually able and willing to do a diagnosis?

Let me clarify something: it's not just he has not gotten specifically an autism diagnosis. The psychiatrists he's seen won't even make ANY diagnosis of ANYTHING. They won't make the effort to do ANYTHING beyond prescribe anti-depressants.

Answer 1

Well if you are getting a prescription for anti-depressants then you have a diagnosis, atleast a temporary one.. You should look on the prescription somewhere and you will find a code. You can look that code up in the DSM-IV and there you will get your diagnosis.. Psychiatrists must give a diagnosis in order to prescribe medication, but often times they don't disclose this to the patient because they may be unsure of their diagnosis or they may feel the patient knowing the diagnosis wouldn't be helpful.. Also often times psychiatrists aren't able to come up with a diagnosis without first seeing how you react to certain medication. They MUST disclose a diagnosis to insurance companies in order for the prescription to be filled. This will be somewhere on the prescripiton that you get.. for example, autism is 299.00 and asperger's is 299.80

Yes it is difficult for adults to get an autism diagosis. If you were high functioning enough to make it through childhood (high school, etc.), then it will be extrememly difficult to get a correct diagnosis. I'm sorry I can't help any further with your last question..

Answer 2

Can you add to your question with more details. PLEASE don't take this the wrong way as I ask but there are things I'd like to know...
How does he "suspect" he's autistic?
Is he married / does he live alone?
How old is he? Is he currently on medication?
Does he have a job? How does he relate to others?
Did he attend public or private school? If so, how did he do?
What state do you live in?
Why does he want to be diagnosed with autism, what would the benefits be?
The last question may be the issue.

I'm not a doctor, but I've been around hundreds of autistic people of all ages and they're all great! And, I've kind of seen the system work.

I don't know how much I can help but feel free to email me.

Answer 3

From what I gather you friend is quite old and that is not compatible with the congenital nature of autism. If he was not diagnosed soon after birth and certainly not latter than 4 years of age then I believe his problem is of other nature.
Could be dyslexic.

Answer 4

Psychiatrists don't give you whatever diagnosis you want. It doesn't work that way. They are going make a diagnosis based on what symptoms they believe you have.