Communicating a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder - a qualitative study of parents' experiences.
Not enough is known about parents' experiences of receiving the news that their child warrants a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Sharing this information with parents is an important and difficult part of Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) practice. Qualitative methodology was used to explore the experiences of the 'feedback session' with nine sets of parents in a community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in North East England. Parents gave vivid accounts of their experiences and described issues relating to the structure, style and content of the session. The experiences of CAMHS users should inform the development of good practice in this important area.
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Community CAMHS, 1st Floor, Benton House, 136 Sandyford Road, Sandyford, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1QE, UK. mandy.abbott@ntw.nhs.uk
Mandy
M
Abbott
Paul
P
Bernard
Jenny
J
Forge
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research