Dr Jasper: “The issue we have is if it’s an ASD referral, we can’t provide specific interventions as there’s no proven treatment as these disorders are seen as a disability rather than a treatable mental illness, although they may need to access support services.
“People with ASDs are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, psychosis or obsessive-compulsive disorder, which are definitely areas of expertise for our trust.
“If a GP is concerned a patient with or without a diagnosis of ASD may have a co-morbid condition such as anxiety or depression, they should refer them into our services. Presence of an ASD shouldn’t prevent that referral being made to mental health services.”
Dr Jasper explained that often referral notes mention ASDs first and, unless specific concerns over the patient’s mental health are explicitly expressed, these tend to fail – as there is not an established ASD service to refer them into.
“There probably is a good case for joined up services for people with ASDs, and we need to work together with commissioners and GPs to find a way to make that happen,” she added.
“There is a willing, and certainly expertise, within our trust to look at developing such a service, so maybe that is something commissioners should consider for the future.
Dr Jasper’s top tips for successful referrals:
• Be clear what mental health symptoms you are worried about and which services the patient needs referring into.
• If a patient presents with symptoms of an ASD, such as Asperger’s, or is actively seeking a diagnosis, they could be referred to BSMHFT for diagnosis, but there are limited resources – and usually a waiting list.
• If the referral relates to a patient with an existing diagnosis of an ASD, there’s no service to support an ASD-specific diagnosis, such as Asperger’s.
• Co-morbid problems such as depression, psychosis or obsessive-compulsive disorder – which are more common in people with ASDs – make your referral through the usual pathway, clearly stating the mental health symptoms the patient presents with as your main concerns.
• Asperger’s or ASDs should be referred to in context, but not as the headline concern on the referral.
