Author(s), year and Participant Approach and Results Conclusions Strengths Limitations title details method Punshon, Skirrow Ten adults, Qualitative. IPA Six superordinate themes: Broadly supports Exploration of Not clear which and Murphy. seven male, 1. Negative life findings of theories of diagnosis author(s) carried three female. Members of focus experiences: Not feeling previous research. so reader can link out interviews (2009) group in the service accepted, or that they fit current findings to and impact this Current ages assisted with the it, being bullied. Importance of literature. might have on 22-45 development of the 2. Experience of services receiving a Explanation of IPA data. The guilty interview schedule (pre-diagnosis): Lifelong diagnosis in order given. ‘not verdict’: Received (did not form part experiences of MH to provide an No discussion of psychological diagnosis after of the final services. Misdiagnosis. explanation of ones Process of data the context or reactions to a 18th birthday, sample). Delays in diagnosis. experiences and to collection and values of diagnosis of age at Mistrust of services. access support. analysis transparent. researchers and Asperger syndrome diagnosis Semi-structured 3. Beliefs about potential effects in adulthood. ranged from interviews carried symptoms of AS: Bereavement / Credibility checks of researcher on 21-44 years. out with going feelings of cognitive stress made a peer data. participants. difference and a desire to models cannot supervision group. All part of a be Attempts to account for the ‘normal’. service for Credibility: mask symptoms of AS. experiences of Quotes used ground adults with AS Themes validated 4. Identity formation: adults receiving a the conclusions in (formal through peer Experienced life without diagnosis of AS. the data. diagnosis support group of an understanding of made within other doctoral level difficulties. Internalising Diagnosis should Implications for this team). researchers and a other people’s ideas of not be considered a services and future second researcher being single event but a research clearly ‘weird’, ‘strange’ analysing a sample and Lack of process that spans identified. ‘odd’. of the data. understanding
going Author(s), year and title Participant details Approach and method Results Conclusions Strengths Limitations Punshon, Skirrow and Murphy. (2009) The ‘not guilty verdict’: psychological reactions to a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome in adulthood. Ten adults, seven male, three female. Current ages 22-45 Received diagnosis after 18th birthday, age at diagnosis ranged from 21-44 years. All part of a service for adults with AS (formal diagnosis made within this team). Qualitative. IPA Members of focus group in the service assisted with the development of the interview schedule (did not form part of the final sample). Semi-structured interviews carried out with participants. Credibility: Themes validated through peer support group of other doctoral level researchers and a second researcher analysing a sample of the data. Six superordinate themes: 1. Negative life experiences: Not feeling accepted, or that they fit it, being bullied. 2. Experience of services (pre-diagnosis): Lifelong experiences of MH services. Misdiagnosis. Delays in diagnosis. Mistrust of services. 3. Beliefs about symptoms of AS: feelings of difference and a desire to be ‘normal’. Attempts to mask symptoms of AS. 4. Identity formation: Experienced life without an understanding of difficulties. Internalising other people’s ideas of being ‘weird’, ‘strange’ and ‘odd’. Lack of understanding Broadly supports findings of previous research. Importance of receiving a diagnosis in order to provide an explanation of ones experiences and to access support. Bereavement / cognitive stress models cannot account for the experiences of adults receiving a diagnosis of AS. Diagnosis should not be considered a single event but a process that spans Exploration of theories of diagnosis so reader can link current findings to literature. Explanation of IPA given. Process of data collection and analysis transparent. Credibility checks made a peer supervision group. Quotes used ground the conclusions in the data. Implications for services and future research clearly identified. Not clear which author(s) carried out interviews and impact this might have on data. No discussion of the context or values of researchers and potential effects of researcher on data.
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