Improving mental health in autistic young adults: a qualitative study exploring help-seeking barriers in UK primary care
Improving mental health in autistic young adults: a qualitative study exploring help-seeking barriers in UK primary care
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DOI：
10.3399/bjgp20x709421
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发表时间：
2020-05-01
影响因子：
5.9
通讯作者：
Beresford, Bryony
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Coleman-Fountain, Edmund;Buckley, Carole;Beresford, Bryony
背景孤独症患者出现精神健康问题的风险增加。为了减少自闭症患者在非自闭症世界中生活的负面影响，努力改善接受和获得护理的机会，并在早年提供支持，这通常从全科医生预约开始。本研究的目的是探索自闭症青年如何理解和管理心理健康问题，并将寻求帮助作为一个重点。自闭症参与者是有目的地选择代表一系列心理健康状况，包括焦虑和抑郁。一个子样本是从一个儿童孤独症筛查的人群队列中招募的。这项研究涉及获得初级care.Methodnineteen没有学习障碍，年龄23或24岁的自闭症年轻人，被招募。深入，半结构化访谈探讨了他们如何理解和管理心理健康问题。数据进行了分析thematically.ResultsYoung adults首选自我管理策略。多个因素促使人们关注自我管理，包括：对心理健康困难的病因的看法，以及对自闭症诊断的增加的脆弱性，自我管理的知识，以及对正式支持不可用或不足的看法。家庭意识有限的专业supports.ConclusionYoung孤独症成年人没有学习障碍，和他们的家人，可能会持有错误的信念孤独症和卑微的健康。这可能会影响寻求帮助，并导致症状加重。全科医生需要警惕这样一个事实，即他们照顾的自闭症年轻人可能会遇到心理健康问题，但可能不会认识到他们。
BackgroundAutistic people are at increased risk of developing menial health problems. To reduce the negative impact of living with autism in a non-autistic world, efforts to improve take-up and access to care, and support in early years, which will typically start with a GP appointment. must be grounded in the accounts of autistic young adults.Aimto explore how autistic young adults understand and manage mental health problems; and to consider help seeking as a focus.Design and settingA cross-sectional, qualitative study. Autistic participants were purposively selected to represent a range of mental health conditions including anxiety and depression. A subsample were recruited from a population cohort screened forautism in childhood. The study concerns access to primary care.MethodNineteen autistic young adults without learning disabilities, aged 23 or 24 years, were recruited. In depth, semi structured interviews explored how they understood and managed mental health problems. Data were analysed thematically.ResultsYoung adults preferred self-management strategies. Multiple factors contributed to a focus on self-management, including: beliefs about the aetiology of mental health difficulties and increased vulnerability with the ()anted of a diagnosis of autism, knowledge of self - management, and a view that formal support was unavailable or inadequate. Families had limited awareness of professional support.ConclusionYoung autistic adults without learning disabilities, and their families, may hold erroneous beliefs about autism arid menial health. This may affect help seeking and contribute to an exacerbation of symptoms. GPs need to be alert to the fact that autistic young adults in their care may be experiencing mental health difficulties but may not recognise them as such.