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More psychiatric intrusion = bad news... On 17 May 2006 at 12:13, Colin Revell wrote: > Psychiatric services for people with autistic-spectrum disorders: A new > report; May 16, 2006, 01:36, Reviewed by: Dr. Venkat Yelamanchili > > British Journal of Psychiatry:- > http://www.rxpgnews.com/psychiatry/learning-disabilities/article_4287.shtml > > Psychiatric services for people with autistic-spectrum disorders: A new > report > Embargoed until 10 May 2006:- Press Release > > http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pressparliament/pressreleases-1/pr789autisticmay2006.aspx > > > The Royal College of Psychiatrists has published a new report entitled > Psychiatric services for adolescents and adults with Asperger syndrome and > other autistic-spectrum disorders. > > > It is a consensus view of a working party of experts convened by the College > to address the complex issues facing professionals and patients with these > disorders. > > The report is aimed at psychiatrists, stakeholders in the development of > autistic-spectrum disorders services, and commissioners of adolescent and > adult services, across all the psychiatric specialties. > > Autistic spectrum disorders are a complex group of developmental disorders, > affecting a wide range of physiological systems and with a variety of > symptoms. Possible signs of the disorders are: > difficulties with personal relationships (social isolation) > problems in communication > absorbing or narrow interests > begins in childhood and is lifelong. > > These disorders often require psychiatric involvement in their diagnosis, > and need to be addressed by all the psychiatric specialties. However, > psychiatric services are only one component of the wider provision needed by > people with autistic-spectrum disorders. > > Treatment requires a flexible approach from a multidisciplinary, > multi-agency range of services that is comprehensive enough to encompass the > complex needs of people with the disorders. This wider service is the > subject of a proposed strategy by the National Autistic Society, as well as > of Health and Social Service planning in Wales, Scotland and Northern > Ireland. > > The report describes the syndrome, other problems associated with it, and > its epidemiology. Diagnosis is distinguished from broader, multidisciplinary > assessment. The report addresses the problem of people with the disorders > who are too old for adolescent services, and too able for learning > disability services. > > Psychiatric provision needs to bridge this gap with a combination of > training, better liaison between its specialties, and the development of > specialist and tertiary services. As psychiatric services are overstretched, > any improvement requires service commissioners to recognise the shortfall, > encourage change and support further developments. > > The report includes sections on how autistic-spectrum disorders are > diagnosed and who should be responsible. Psychiatric management and drug > treatments are discussed, as are psychiatric services in the community, > psychiatric treatment units and psychiatric specialties, and recommendations > made. > > The report stresses the need for psychiatrists to work together with both > the statutory and the independent sectors to ensure adequate psychiatric > input into autistic-spectrum services. > > For those cases where diagnosis is less straightforward, or where clinical > management is more complex, there also needs to be access to local > specialist expertise and, where necessary, to tertiary specialist services. > > The report encourages research into the impact of autistic-spectrum > disorders on adolescence and adulthood as it affects clinical psychiatry. > > Psychiatric services for adolescents and adults with Asperger syndrome and > other autistic-spectrum disorders (CR136) costs £10.00 and is available from > from Book Sales, Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17 Belgrave Square, London > SW1X 8PG. Tel: 020 7235 2351 ext. 146; www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications. > > May 2006 > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > For further information, please contact Deborah Hart or Thomas Kennedy in > the External Affairs Department. > Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 127 or 154 > E-mail: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] > > _________________________________________________________________ > The new MSN Search Toolbar now includes Desktop search! > http://join.msn.com/toolbar/overview > > ________________End of message______________________ > > This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). 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