Autism assessment

Understanding yourself differently

If you have always felt slightly out of step with the people around you, if social situations leave you exhausted in a way that is hard to explain, or if you have spent years carefully studying how other people behave in order to fit in, you may have wondered whether you are autistic. Many adults reach this point after years of feeling different without quite knowing why, often after being misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, or personality difficulties, or simply told they are “too sensitive” or “overthinking things.”

A formal assessment can bring clarity. For many people, a diagnosis is not a label but a framework that makes sense of a lifetime of experiences, and it can open the door to self-understanding, self-compassion, and the right kind of support.

At Caledonian Psychiatry, your assessment is carried out by one of the practice’s psychiatrists, and you keep the same named doctor throughout your care. Most patients see Dr David Crocker, an experienced psychiatrist (MRCPsych) skilled in diagnosing autism in adults, including those who have reached adulthood without recognition; autism assessments are also available with Dr Abderahman Kamaledeen, Associate Specialist Psychiatrist, and you can book with him online if you would prefer. Fees, standards and the approach are the same whichever doctor you see. Your psychiatrist follows NICE CG142 guidance and ICD-11 diagnostic criteria, and takes a careful, person-centred approach, with particular attention to presentations that may have been overlooked, including in people who have learned to mask their difficulties.

What to expect

The assessment takes place over two 60-minute appointments by secure video link, so you can attend from a setting where you feel comfortable. Your psychiatrist draws on multiple sources of evidence to build a thorough picture:

• A detailed clinical interview exploring your developmental history from early childhood, including social development, friendships, communication milestones, and sensory experiences. The focus is on your internal experience of these things, not just what was visible to others. Our psychiatrists have a reputation for being relaxed, and small talk, eye contact, and humour are tailored in a way that feels comfortable to you. They will always try to find the least stressful way to get to the bottom of your difficulties.
• An autism-focused diagnostic interview covering social communication and interaction, restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests, and sensory processing. This follows a deliberately structured approach, but is guided by your individual story rather than a rigid checklist. Sometimes simply telling your story, with your psychiatrist listening, can be just as effective.
• Behavioural observation during the consultation itself. The way you communicate, process questions, and interact during the assessment all form part of the clinical picture, and these observations are noted carefully. Whilst this might sound overbearing, it is non-judgemental in intention and designed to strengthen the clinical findings.
• Validated rating scales. Every autism assessment includes a full suite of validated instruments: the AQ-50 (Autism Spectrum Quotient), EQ-40 (Empathy Quotient), RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale – Revised), CAT-Q (Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire), and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test. The RAADS-R was designed specifically for adults, including those whose autism went unrecognised earlier in life, and the CAT-Q measures camouflaging directly, making it particularly valuable for women, who are more likely to mask and to be underestimated by traditional scales. These are useful tools, but they are never the whole picture. Our guide to what the RAADS-R and CAT-Q measure explains these two instruments in depth.
• A collateral history from a family member or someone who knew you in childhood, obtained with your consent. This helps establish whether features were present during the developmental period, which ICD-11 and NICE guidance require for a diagnosis.
• Review of any available supporting records, such as school reports, educational psychology assessments, or previous clinical correspondence.

Your psychiatrist also carefully considers whether other conditions might better explain your difficulties or might coexist alongside autism. ADHD, social anxiety disorder, complex trauma, personality traits, and mood disorders can all overlap with or mimic autistic features, and distinguishing between them requires careful clinical judgement. ICD-11 requires that the clinical picture is not better accounted for by another condition, and this differential reasoning is addressed explicitly in your report. If you already have an ADHD diagnosis, this will be taken into account and cross-referenced within the assessment. Although ADHD may not be high on your radar, those diagnosed with autism are far more likely to have it.

Clinical standards

All assessments are conducted in accordance with NICE CG142 and ICD-11 diagnostic criteria. The assessment follows a structured clinical framework using validated rating scales, comprehensive developmental history, behavioural observation, and collateral information to build a thorough evidence base for each diagnostic decision.

After the assessment

You will receive a detailed written report setting out the diagnostic conclusion, the evidence on which it is based, and personalised recommendations. Where autism is confirmed, the report will include practical guidance on next steps, which may include workplace adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, referral to support services, psychological therapy suited to autistic adults, or further assessment for coexisting conditions. With your consent, your psychiatrist can also provide general advice for employers, though they often find that tailored requests from patients to adjust their own working arrangements, where appropriate, lead to very effective changes and meaningful improvements to quality of life.

Not every assessment results in a diagnosis, and nor should it. A rigorous assessment must be willing to reach any conclusion the evidence supports. If autism is not confirmed, the report will still provide a thorough formulation of what is likely contributing to your difficulties, with clear recommendations. Many people find the assessment process itself valuable regardless of the outcome, because it provides a structured space to reflect on experiences that may never have been properly explored.

The report is addressed to you and, with your consent, shared with your GP. Sharing the outcome with your GP is standard practice and helps ensure continuity of care, particularly if you need onward support or if coexisting conditions have been identified during the assessment.

Who this is for

This service is for adults aged 18 and over who suspect they may be autistic and would like a formal diagnostic assessment. We accept self-referrals directly, and no GP referral letter is required. However, we do recommend letting your GP know you are being assessed. If you are also interested in an ADHD assessment, a combined assessment can be arranged, which is often the most efficient approach when both conditions are suspected (and saves £300 compared with booking the two assessments separately).

Fees

Autism assessment (2 sessions × 60 minutes): £800. See our fees page for the complete schedule of charges, or our guide to private autism assessment in Scotland: costs and what to expect.

Independent adult autism assessments in Scotland typically cost £1,750–£2,400 (prices checked July 2026). Our fee is £800: the same NICE-aligned assessment standards, from a HIS-regulated psychiatric practice that also prescribes and provides ongoing care, corresponding directly with your GP.

Combined ADHD and autism assessment (3 sessions × 60 minutes): £1,300.

Follow-up appointments (30 minutes): £130.

If medication is prescribed as part of your ongoing care: £30 per prescription for controlled medications (ADHD stimulants such as methylphenidate and lisdexamfetamine), or £25 for non-controlled medications such as those for anxiety. The cost of the medication itself is paid directly to your dispensing pharmacy. See our medication cost guide for typical prices.