Personality Disorder and Late Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition in Secondary Mental Health Services : Experiences of individuals with a diagnosis of personality disorder being diagnosed with autism spectrum condition whilst in secondary mental health services

Dalton, Jade and Hodge, Suzanne (2024) Personality Disorder and Late Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition in Secondary Mental Health Services : Experiences of individuals with a diagnosis of personality disorder being diagnosed with autism spectrum condition whilst in secondary mental health services. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.

Text (2024DaltonDClinPsy)
2024DaltonDClinPsy.pdf - Published Version
Download (3MB)

Abstract

This thesis is comprised of four sections including a systematic literature review, an empirical paper, a critical appraisal, and an ethics section. The systematic literature review is a thematic synthesis of 18 papers exploring the impact of autism spectrum condition and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adulthood on mental health and wellbeing. Three themes were generated: (1) Beliefs about diagnoses impact adults’ experiences of being diagnosed, (2) Diagnosis inspires new perspectives on relationships with self and others, and (3) Diagnosis provides a new lens for the past and the future. Clinical implications to support mitigating the negative impact of adult diagnosis on mental health and wellbeing are discussed, alongside implications for future research. The empirical research paper explores the lived experience of secondary mental health services from the perspective of autistic adults who were diagnosed with a personality disorder prior to their diagnosis of autism spectrum condition. Six participants engaged in semi-structured interviews which were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. The analysis generated four themes: (1) Realising the nuances of having a diagnosis and having a diagnostic label, (2) “A steep learning curve”: seeking understanding amongst misconceptions, (3) Having a voice in secondary mental health services: a dichotomy of control and helplessness, and (4) Compassion cultivates compassion: service and individual level disparities in care. Clinical implications for secondary mental health services are explored alongside implications for future research. The critical appraisal expands on the clinical and r3esearch implications for both papers, alongside the strengths and limitations of the papers, and critical reflections on the papers and the research process.