Autistic psychiatrists' experiences of recognising themselves and others as autistic: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Diagnosis of autism falls under the remit of psychiatry. Recognition that psychiatrists could be autistic is recent. Psychiatrists are the second largest specialty group in Autistic Doctors International, a peer support group for autistic doctors.

Aims

To explore the experiences of autistic psychiatrists in relation to recognising themselves and others as autistic.

Method

This was a qualitative study using loosely structured interviews and an interpretive phenomenological analysis.

Results

Eight autistic senior psychiatrists based in the UK participated. One had a childhood diagnosis, two had been diagnosed in adulthood and the remainder self-identified as autistic as adults. Recognition of autism followed diagnosis of their children or encounters wi

SUBMITTER: Doherty M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11698211 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature