Comparative analysis of diagnostic expectations between adults referred for ADHD and autism assessment: a thematic analysis

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Adults seeking ADHD assessment primarily expect pharmacological interventions, while those seeking Autism assessment focus on understanding themselves.
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The study analyzed responses from 100 adults referred for ADHD assessment and compared them with 60 published responses from Autism assessments.
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Key differences in expectations include ADHD seekers desiring diagnostic certainty, while Autism seekers prioritize depth of understanding.
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ADHD respondents often described themselves using harsh self-descriptors, contrasting with Autism respondents who reported a focus on differences.
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The findings suggest that ADHD and Autism assessments require differentiated clinical responses to meet the distinct needs of each group.

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