Psychiatrists for autistic people

什么是精神病医生？

精神病学家是从事心理健康进一步研究的医生，专门诊断和治疗患有精神分裂症、抑郁症、双相情感障碍、饮食失调和成瘾等精神健康问题的人。

与心脏病专家一样，他是心血管健康专家，妇科医生是妇女健康和生殖专家，精神病医生是专门研究心理健康状况的医学专家。

精神病医生和心理学家有什么区别？

精神病医生是医生，可以开药。心理学家是研究人类思维的卫生专业人员，但使用心理治疗（有时称为认知疗法或"谈话"疗法）帮助人们找到解决人际关系、学习、在一系列领域的表现以及生活挑战的解决方案。

How can psychiatrists support autistic people?

一些精神病学家对自闭症感兴趣和专业知识，通过额外的研究和临床经验获得。

全科医生（GP）或其他健康专业人员如果怀疑其可能患有自闭症或担心其心理健康，可将其转介给精神病医生。也可以向精神病医生进行自我转诊。

精神病医生也可能由您的全科医生或其他健康专业人员转介，以支持包括心理健康状况在内的领域。

Specifically, psychiatrists can assist autistic people, or who are suspected of being autistic, with the following professional services:

Assessment
Psychiatrists can assist in the assessment and diagnosis of autism. A psychiatrist will usually work in a diagnostic team, with a paediatrician, psychologist and/or speech pathologist to diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Diagnosis is based on observing a specific combination of behaviours. Psychiatrists can also assist with managing the mental health of an autistic person, or who are thought to be autistic.

Assessments can occur at any point in a person’s life to ensure their behaviours are understood and that they are being supported appropriately. Assessments can involve input from other health professionals.

干预
制定治疗和支持干预计划，其中可能包括药物治疗、治疗支持和服务。

药物
如果需要，开药。

转介
转介该人转介至其他医学专家，例如神经科医生和儿科医生及/或职业治疗师、心理学家及言语病理学家等专职健康专家。

连接
精神病医生对医疗和卫生系统有深刻的了解，并可以提供一系列的健康和社区服务。

报告
为学校、雇主和其他医生和专家准备正式报告和专业意见。

精神病医生如何提供服务？

大多数人将在从他们的全科医生转诊后第一次见到精神病医生。

They will often participate in an in-clinic individualised assessment which can be followed by counselling and therapy sessions. This first assessment may lead to a long-term relationship where the psychiatrist can monitor progress and adjust support programs and medications.