Thought Pieces & Videos

People are often interested in how you diagnose autism, largely because it is not straight-forward! There isn’t a simple binary test, it is a much longer, and more involved process, with a diverse range of assessment criteria. Here, Dr Caryl Marshall, Consultant Psychiatrist, talks through the different steps of assessment for autism she takes in her practice, from pre-screening to diagnostic interviews, from childhood reporting, to lived experience accounts.

While it is not officially classified as an eating disorder, emotional eating or overeating can be equally distressing for those who struggle with it. Emotional eating can pose significant problems when frequently used to escape feelings and emotions. Although this behaviour may provide short-term relief, it is important to understand the reasons behind your emotional eating and identify your needs that are otherwise not being met.

Understanding when PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) meets the threshold for PMDD (pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder), the more severe condition associated with hormonal change through the menstrual cycle, is the first important step someone can make in treating what is often a truly debilitating condition. The second step, of course, is effective treatment.

There is much dialogue on how autism presents differently in men and women. While there isn’t a person with autism that presents the same as another, it is reasonable to say that there are different manifestations of the core features of autism, and these can become more pronounced in the different sexes. The diagnosis is hugely diverse, but here Dr Caryl Marshall, Consultant Psychiatrist, talks through some of the variances between autism in men and women, and how they can present.

Every three minutes, someone in the UK develops a dementia - it's one of the biggest health challenges of our time. Unfortunately, it is rare that a family won’t in some way be touched by these conditions. Understanding what the process of assessment and diagnosis looks like can be useful - it can help you, and your loved ones, know what to expect, what to consider, and how to prepare for these appointments.

Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) is a household name - the cluster of symptoms that come in the days and weeks before your monthly period. But what about when “PMS” symptoms are severe, and debilitating enough to seriously impact your day to day life?

Noticing increased forgetfulness in loved ones as they get older is of course worrying - is it just a phase? Or is it an early sign of a dementia? Consultant Psychiatrist and Old Age Specialist Dr Ruth Cairns helps us navigate these questions.

A heightened sense of anxiety after becoming pregnant is entirely normal - after all, there is so much to think about, and so many new emotions and considerations that will be coming up day by day. There is an acceptable threshold however, between what we can consider anxiety as part of the human experience, and anxiety that negatively impacts and impairs your ability to life through your day to day life.

We might feel like we know what we should do to help our mental health, but sometimes it might feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. So, what do the professionals prioritise? Do they practice what they preach? How do they keep themselves mentally well, and healthy?