title: Misdiagnosis versus missed diagnosis: diagnosing autism spectrum disorder in adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The diagnosis of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is sometimes delayed until adolescence. This study tries to identify the symptoms in clients that initiated a referral to an autism team of an early intervention service providing psychiatric care for young people between the ages of 15 and 25 and who subsequently receive a new diagnosis of autism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one ASD assessments were carried out during a period of 3 years in an early intervention service in Australia. An attempt to identify the common presenting symptoms and trends in the referrals for ASD assessment within the service was made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most common presentation of adolescents getting referred for ASD assessment was with depressive symptoms followed by mixed anxiety and depression and primary psychotic symptoms. There was a significant gender difference, with a higher number of males getting referred for ASD assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ASDs can go undetected during childhood and these clients can sometimes present during adolescence to mental health services for a psychiatric comorbidity. Regular training opportunities for clinicians dealing with them could improve the chances of ASDs being picked up during their episode of care at an early intervention service, thus optimizing their management.
authors: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Orygen Youth Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia shilpazq@gmail.com.
authors: Shilpa
authors: S
authors: Aggarwal
authors: Clinical Psychologist, Orygen Youth Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
authors: Beth
authors: B
authors: Angus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adolescence; autism spectrum disorders; early intervention service