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Suspected feigning of autism in adults: a clinician survey, indications and proposed guidelines

Suspected feigning of autism in adults: a clinician survey, indications and proposed guidelines This paper aims to provide a discussion and summary of a clinician survey exploring the experiences of suspected feigned autism.Design/methodology/approachThis study is an online survey targeting a range of autism professionals, with varying levels of experience, working in different clinical settings.FindingsApproximately half of the professionals who completed the survey reported experiencing situations of suspected feigning of adult autism across a range of clinical contexts and with various motivations. In terms of best indications of potential feigning, most clinicians reported “textbook” self-descriptions of problem behaviours with vague examples, as well as inconsistent presenting problems and mismatch with any known developmental history. Approximately half of clinicians expressed the view that autism was more difficult to feign than a psychiatric disorder and had experienced situations involving differences in professional opinion as to an individual autism diagnosis.Research limitations/implicationsThe survey is limited by a potential sample bias and no information regarding the clinical characteristics of those suspected to have feigned autism. However, these initial findings offer further questions for future research to pursue.Originality/valueAs an initial examination of practicing clinicians’ experiences of suspected feigned autism, the survey highlights the complexities of an autism diagnosis and suggests feigning is a potential clinical scenario. Some guidance as to when to suspect possible feigned autism is also offered, as well as a provisional assessment protocol. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Advances in Autism Emerald Publishing

Suspected feigning of autism in adults: a clinician survey, indications and proposed guidelines

Murphy, David; Broyd, Josephine Grace
Advances in Autism , Volume 9 (1): 13 – Jan 18, 2023
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Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited
ISSN
2056-3868
DOI
10.1108/aia-11-2021-0044
Publisher site
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Abstract

This paper aims to provide a discussion and summary of a clinician survey exploring the experiences of suspected feigned autism.Design/methodology/approachThis study is an online survey targeting a range of autism professionals, with varying levels of experience, working in different clinical settings.FindingsApproximately half of the professionals who completed the survey reported experiencing situations of suspected feigning of adult autism across a range of clinical contexts and with various motivations. In terms of best indications of potential feigning, most clinicians reported “textbook” self-descriptions of problem behaviours with vague examples, as well as inconsistent presenting problems and mismatch with any known developmental history. Approximately half of clinicians expressed the view that autism was more difficult to feign than a psychiatric disorder and had experienced situations involving differences in professional opinion as to an individual autism diagnosis.Research limitations/implicationsThe survey is limited by a potential sample bias and no information regarding the clinical characteristics of those suspected to have feigned autism. However, these initial findings offer further questions for future research to pursue.Originality/valueAs an initial examination of practicing clinicians’ experiences of suspected feigned autism, the survey highlights the complexities of an autism diagnosis and suggests feigning is a potential clinical scenario. Some guidance as to when to suspect possible feigned autism is also offered, as well as a provisional assessment protocol.

Journal

Advances in Autism – Emerald Publishing

Published: Jan 18, 2023

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorders; Autism; Feigning; Malingering; Symptom validity

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