Adult diagnosis in the UK

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Hi. I went to see my GP 3 weeks ago and she agreed it was worthwhile referring me for tests for Aspergers. The NAS advised me where to ask for a referral to as there are no provisions for adult diagnosis in my city. I am expecting a considerable wait (although my GP admitted she hadn't a clue how long it could take) but can anyone diagnosed as an adult in the UK give me some idea of how long they had to wait before receiving an appointment date? I'm in Yorkshire if that helps.

I had to wait for 5 months for the apointment for my initial referral to the local mental health clinic down the road to decide if the trust should fork out for the actual specialist assesment that could eventually confirm AS so, I would not hold your breath. Still, at least NHS cover assesment for free unlike the states.

I'm not really sure what the procedure will be in my case. The place I was referred to specialises in adult assessments for AS but it's based about 30 miles away so comes under a different PCT. My GP said she'd happily refer me after our discussion but I'm not sure what way they'll go about the funding side of it. Presumably after the centre receive the referral they'll contact my local PCT for funding.

The process for me was surprisingly quick, easy and straight-forward. I initially raised the idea with my support worker (who I see for various mental health issues, such as depression and OCD) in October. She spoke to my care-coordinator who performed a screening test on me in early November which indicated a formal assessment might be beneficial. I was referred to a specialist service in my area and received a letter soon after saying I would be offered an appointment as quickly as possible. My first appointment with the specialist was on January 9th -- we spoke for about an hour and he decided he'd do a formal assessment. I was given a questionnaire and got an appointment for the following week to do an IQ test. Two weeks after my IQ test (yesterday) I had the proper assessment and was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. I still can't believe how simple it all was and from what I've read, I think I have been extremely lucky.

That was very quick. I can only hope my wait is as short, although I'm prepared for a lengthy wait. I wouldn't mind if they only gave me an appointment date but it was several months away. It's the not having a clue how long it's likely to take that's the worst.

Before getting diagnosed with AS I spent maybe 15 years seeing mental health professionals on and off. Not one of them even considered that I might have AS despite the fact that I quite clearly do. It was only after someone making a comment and me reading about AS at length that I realised that I probably had it and that was probably the root cause of most of my difficulties. Once I actually went to my GP and specifically asked to see somebody who could diagnose ASDs my experience was quick and painless. I was lucky enough that there was a psychiatrist at a local centre (same town) who has experience with ASDs and he was able to perform the diagnosis. It took about three months for the appointment to come through and then two appointments of a few hours each later I got diagnosed with AS. The whole process took about 5 months. The psychiatrist used the DISCO diagnostic interview. This was all quite recently and there are still a couple of amendments to be made to the report he produced. Unlike others I didn't take an IQ test or anything which I was a little disappointed about; I have no worries about my intelligence overall but I would have been interested to know if there are any particular areas in which I show impairments. I don't think I should complain though considering how quick and easy the whole process was for me compared to some others.

Like the poster above I have seen a number of mental health professionals over a long period for the treatment of anixety and depression but they never mentioned AS. I recently mentioned the condition directly to my GP and supplied him with a completed RDOS quiz and a list of what I believe are my symptoms. The GP thought I had made a reasonable assessment and has referred me to the Maudsley Hospital. No mention was made of funding. He suggested that I might have to wait about 4 weeks before I hear from them.

I've not really ever had any type of health problems as such. In fact I rarely go to the doctors so I think she knew it must be something to even get me there in the first place. I explained to her what my life has been like and how I just thought that I was maybe a little odd and not like most people until I read about Aspergers and it was like a checklist of my traits. I printed off all the various online tests to show her. I had no idea how she'd react but she smiled and said she definitely thought it was worthwhile having tests and that she'd be happy to refer me. So I guess after reading some peoples struggles just to get their GP to take them seriously I am off to a good start.

I had an email today from the centre I've been referred to. It turns out that my GP's surgery hadn't yet posted the referral off, although they did confirm to the assessment centre that they were referring me. The good news is that I now know that it will be a 6-8 month wait. Not great but at least I know

I was diagnosed in November last year. I had suspected for a long time that I had AS but when I had problems at work and reached rock bottom, I decided to do something about it. I was living abroad and I returned to the UK to set up a referral. I visited a GP, who was very understanding and agreed to refer me. My family thought I needed help quickly and as a NHS referral could take a long time, they agreed to fund a private assessment for me. I got an appointment for the assessment about six weeks later. I was expecting a complicated, long drawn out procedure, but it was very simple. The neuropsychiatrist conducted an interview which lasted just over an hour at the end of which I was diagnosed with AS and Major Depressive Episode.

The GP is now referring me to another centre where she says they might want to conduct further tests on me - I have no details of this but I suspect there's a very long waiting list. The original diagnosis was made with the DSM-IV so I don't know what will happen with this diagnosis after the DSM 5 comes into force. Perhaps I'll have to be reassessed for ASD, I don't know what the policy on this will be in the UK.

I'm at University and I went to my GP at uni to ask for a referral in January 2013. He asked me why I think I have AS, the symptoms, and how it affects my life. He then said that he'd refer me to the Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) who would decide if I should see a Psychiatrist. I had to wait 2 weeks for this appoinment. I went to the appointment, however I was told that it had to be cancelled as she wouldn't be able to help me, and that they'll book me straight in with the Psychiatrist to be assessed. They are however changing Psychiatrists, so I will have to wait until early March to see them. I am now waiting for that appointment to be booked.

I haven't seen the Psychiatrist yet, but from my initial GP appointment to referring me to a Psychiatrist, it has only taken a maximum of 2 months, which is pretty quick compared to what other people have experienced.

Good luck with your diagnosis process!

Nesf, I read somewhere that the diagnosis for AS will remain in the UK for now rather than changing to ASD. Could they be retesting you because you have a private diagnosis? I've heard a few times that not everyone will accept a private diagnosis if you need any type of support so will refer you for an NHS diagnosis. I'm only going on articles I've read though.

Thanks LD92. There's nothing worse than waiting and not knowing. You've been very lucky though. My problem is despite living in a city there are no provisions for adults here so I have to be referred outside of the area. The provisions for children though are very good.

For me it was a 3 month wait between seeing my GP and seeing a psychiatrist who had a particular interest in adults with ASD. I saw the psychiatrist for assessment several times over a three month period and was diagnosed 6 months after I initially saw my GP. Since then I have had my diagnosis confirmed by an autism specialist (who a different psych referred me to after I experienced a significan decline in my mental health - this took about 3 months from referral) and a psychologist while I was a psychiatric inpatient.

She said that they might want to test me again after I asked her about the changes to the DSM and what would happen to my diagnosis, actually I think she didn't know what would happen and was telling me that I could be reassessed according to the DSM 5 if I wanted, the referral wasn't specifically for an assessment but for support, but I took that to mean they may want to reassess me because of the changes. I have never at any point been told that my diagnosis isn't valid or accepted, though it did seem very simple in comparison to the procedure others seem to be going through and I can't help wondering if I shouldn't have had some tests to be sure.

I also went through the metal health route....i had learning difficulties as a child and interaction issues
As an adult..i suffered from depression and other issues and got diagnosed with so many wrong conditions until a doctor said he thought i had AS..i was sent to a specialist hospital and after 5hrs of tests god diagnosed with AS OCD and depression all in one go!
i am still angry at the mental health team not spotting my real problem right away..as i did get a statement done in school from an early age until i was 16...not rocket science to work the rest out.

The NHS doesn't like private diagnosis. Dxd ADD less than a year ago under private psychiatrist using DSM criteria. NHS generally uses ICD 10 which still recognises Aspergers and apparently is unlikely to remove it from ICD 11. I have to go back for re assessment of ADD under the NHS and I bet you any money that it will be the same psychiatrist as I know he works in NHS as well.

I think I will leave mentioning possible ASD until I see the psychiatrist or do you think I should write my GP a letter explaining my additional issues?