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Bu sayfa, 26. Dünya Psikiyatri Kongresi'nde sunulan çalışmanın yapay zekâ desteğiyle hazırlanmış Türkçe özetidir. Çalışmanın sahibi sunan yazarlardır; atıf için orijinal kaynağa başvurun.

SO455

Psychotherapy experiences and access to mental health services among autistic adults in Sweden: toward autism-informed standard care

PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT EXPERIENCES AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACCESS AMONG AUTISTIC ADULTS IN SWEDEN: TOWARDS AUTISM-AWARE STANDARD CARE

Access to psychotherapy for autistic adults is not a single point of entry but a dynamic process shaped by fragmented referral pathways, gatekeeping, and the management of autism visibility, requiring autism-informed adaptations.

The study aimed to understand autistic adults’ experiences of seeking and receiving psychotherapy in Swedish outpatient psychiatric services and to identify clinically actionable recommendations for making standard mental health care autism-informed. Using a qualitative, participatory design, semi-structured interviews were conducted in person or by videoconference with 21 autistic adults recruited from an outpatient psychiatric clinic specializing in adult autism in Gothenburg. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants ranged in age from 21 to 57 and included 8 women, 9 men, and 4 gender-diverse individuals; 17 of the 21 participants (81%) had experience of psychotherapy, and all had a clinically confirmed autism diagnosis and a co-occurring psychiatric condition. The study design, interview guide, and interpretation of the findings were shaped by input from the clinic’s Patient Panel, an advisory board on neurodevelopmental disorders, and representatives of patient organizations. The findings were organized into five themes: fragmented care pathways; gatekeeping processes; negotiating autism visibility through disclosure, self-advocacy, or masking; mismatch versus adaptation in psychotherapy; and the psychological consequences of repeated difficulties accessing care, including exhaustion, hopelessness, self-doubt, and reluctance to seek help again. Facilitators included structured sessions, clear communication, flexibility in the pace of therapy, and an affirming clinician attitude. Participants’ recommendations were summarized under the following headings: ask rather than assume, make communication clear and concrete, facilitate the expression of needs, and offer support before a crisis occurs. In conclusion, the study recommends autism-informed standards in outpatient psychiatry, clinician training, structural flexibility, and the systematic inclusion of patient perspectives.

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