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Presenting Symptoms of Undiagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Young Boys and Girls in Community CAMHS Between 2018–2019
- Kesegofetse Setlhare, Sobia Rafi
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 8 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 June 2022, pp. S172-S173
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- Article
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Aims
Though Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a common childhood neurodevelopmental disorders, the literature on presentation of undiagnosed ASD in Consultant Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, (CAMHS) is scarce. The aim of the study was to look at symptoms at presentation among boys and girls in CAMHS, compare the symptom profile between the two genders, establish the main referral and assessment pathways and interventions employed after diagnosis
MethodsThis was a retrospective review of patients’ files referred to ASD Walsall CAHMS Clinic conducted in February 2021. A random sample size of 44 boys and girls equally distributed from the ASD database was selected randomly from the completed ASD assessment list, the equal distribution between genders was intentional. We looked at presenting symptoms reported on the referral letters, assessments in CAMHS, and interventions outlined from ASD outcome letters of all subjects with completed ASD assessment, in age groups 7–18 years.
ResultsAcross genders, most patients presented in the teenage years with common age of presentation seen at ages 15 and 17, both at 15.9% and mean age being 13 years. Ninety-five percent of patients were in school at the time of referral. Only 4.5% of patient were referred through crisis and the rest through local GP. A variety of presenting symptoms were seen, with the majority of the patients presenting with social and communication difficulties (77.3%), under /overreaction to sensory stimuli (63.6%) and anxiety (61.4%). 9.1% of patients had a family history of ASD. 100% of assessments included ADOS, SALT and neurodevelopmental assessment. 77.3% of patients were referred to support groups like living with ASD parent support groups. Along with CAMHS, education (97.7%) was the main agency involved in the care of these patients. In 44.2% of patients, EHCP was requested or already in place. The in between gender comparison also showed that although most symptoms were similar in both groups, some such as self-harm were higher among girls (27.3%) as compared to boys (13.6%) as well as obsessional symptoms which were more common in boys (63.3%) as compared to girls (27.3%).
ConclusionUndiagnosed ASD presents with a wide variety of symptoms amongst boys and girls. Previous UK studies have shown an earlier presentation of ASD and which is contrary to our findings demonstrating a much later presentation. Therefore, we recommend referrers to be aware of the varied presentations and have a lower threshold for referral to secondary services to aid quicker ASD diagnosis and management.
An Audit to Assess the Quality of Ward Referrals Sent to City Hospital Liaison Psychiatry Team From Inpatients Wards D15, D17and D27, Between July 2021 to September 2021
- Kesegofetse Setlhare, Hannah Woodman, Amandeep Pahal, James Hickmott
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 8 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 June 2022, p. S173
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Aims
Liaison psychiatry provides psychiatric care to medical patients. Patients include those attending emergency departments, general hospital inpatients and outpatients. Liaison teams work hand in hand with several general hospital teams to offer advice, review and manage these patients. Over the last few months, the Liaison service in City Hospital have been receiving many inappropriate referrals. Inappropriate referrals are defined as patients who are referred to services, with one of the following reasons:
1. Insufficient presenting complaint
2. No documented Past psychiatric history
3. Insufficient Mental state Examination (MSE)
4. No risk assessment
5. No documented Drug/alcohol history
6. Patients having not consented to referral.
7. If one or more of the above criteria is not met
Our aim was to evaluate the appropriateness of the referrals received from D15, D17, D27 inpatients wards in City Hospital over a 3-month period from July to September 2021. These wards were chosen as they commonly refer patients to liaison services.
MethodsWe collated data retrospectively on the nature of all referrals from D15, D17 and D27 ward over a 3-month period. The patient referral portal was used, and referral content of each patient was analysed. An audit tool was devised to assess whether the referrals followed the liaison referral pathway and guidelines set by NHS England for referral structure to liaison services.
Results18 patients were referred to the Liaison psychiatry from the three wards over the three-month period. We observed 77.8% (n = 14) of the referrals having insufficient information for the presenting complaints, whilst 22.2% (n = 4) of them did not state past psychiatric history. Approximately 94.4%(n = 17) did not state sufficient details of MSE. In 83.3% (n = 15) of referrals appropriate detailed risk assessment was not done, 27.8% (n = 5) of them did not have alcohol/ drug use stated and 22.2% (n = 4) of patients referred did not consent to the referral being made.
ConclusionThe results demonstrated that ward referrals lack quality and contain inadequate information to allow for safe screening of patients and for the implementation of appropriate actions by the liaison team. A possible reason for inappropriate referrals may be due an existing knowledge gap and lack of confidence taking detailed psychiatric histories, assessing risk, and performing MSE in non-psychiatric trainees making referrals to liaison services.