%A Elias  Tsakanikos
%J Referral trends in mental  health services for adults with  intellectual disability and  autism spectrum disorders  
%T Referral trends in mental  health services for adults with  intellectual disability and  autism spectrum disorders  


%X ABSTRACT Researchers have paid increasing attention to mental 
health issues in adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) over the 
last decades. However, little is known about how rates of clinical 
referrals,types of mental health diagnoses and treatment in adults with 
ASDs and intellectual disability have changed. We examined patterns 
of change in referral trends to specialist mental health services in south 
London from 1983 to 2000 (N= 137). The majority of the cases 
(58.4%) did not have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder. Schizo- 
phrenia was the most frequent psychiatric diagnosis followed by 
depression, adjustment reaction and anxiety. There was a signi?cant 
change in the rate of referrals,an increase in the diagnosable psychi- 
atric disorders over time and a signi?cant reduction of medication at 
time of referral. There were no signi?cant changes in the use of other 
therapeutic interventions. The proportion of participants living inde- 
pendently increased. Implications for services and future research are 
discussed. 
 

%D 2007
%K adult autism;  dual  diagnosis;  intellectual  disability;  mental health  services; 
mental retardation
%L cogprints7227

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