ASD Assessment for Adults
Structured assessment to support psychiatric diagnostic clarification and formulation.
This service provides a structured, evidence-informed autism assessment for adults, designed to support psychiatrists with clear, clinically relevant information for diagnostic clarification and formulation.
Clinical Purpose
This assessment is designed to provide psychiatrists with structured, pre-assessed information, allowing for more efficient use of psychiatric consultation time.
Patients are typically referred for:
pre-assessment prior to psychiatric review
clarification in diagnostically unclear or complex presentations
structured documentation to support clinical decision-making
Overview.
The assessment is suitable for patients presenting with:
longstanding social communication differences
difficulties with social reciprocity or interaction
sensory sensitivities or atypical sensory processing
rigid, routine-based, or highly structured behavioural patterns
complex presentations where autism may overlap with anxiety, trauma, or personality-related factors
The process is designed to:
clarify whether autism is likely present
differentiate from overlapping or alternative presentations
provide a structured, clinically interpretable report to support psychiatric assessment
How this supports psychiatric assessment.
The assessment is designed to:
provide a structured overview of symptom presentation and developmental history
clarify whether autism is likely present prior to psychiatric review
reduce time spent gathering background and screening information
support more focused diagnostic and formulation discussions
Referral Suitability
This service is most useful for patients who:
are seeking clarification prior to psychiatric assessment
present with complex or overlapping symptom profiles
require structured developmental and behavioural assessment
would benefit from clearer formulation before treatment planning
Assessment Components
detailed clinical interview (including developmental history and current presentation)
exploration of social communication patterns, behavioural tendencies, and sensory profile
use of validated autism assessment measures (e.g. RAADS-R, AQ or equivalent where appropriate)
consideration of differential diagnoses and comorbid presentations
integration of findings into a structured clinical formulation
Report
Reports are structured to support clinical decision-making and include:
summary of presenting concerns
relevant developmental and clinical history
assessment findings and interpretation
diagnostic formulation (where appropriate)
clear, clinically relevant recommendations
Clinical Use
The report may be used to:
support psychiatric diagnostic clarification
inform broader formulation in complex presentations
guide discussion of supports, adjustments, or next steps
provide structured documentation for ongoing care
Process
1–2 assessment sessions (Telehealth, Australia-wide)
completion of questionnaires prior to session
report provided within approximately 1–2 weeks