Autism spectrum disorder in older people: A scoping review of the screening and diagnostic tools available for...

The diagnosis and management of autism spectrum disorder is an important clinical issue for psychiatrists. However, there is a lack of research and resources to recognise this condition in older people. This condition is important to detect and diagnose because it is associated with high incidence of psychiatric comorbidity. The diagnosis helps clinicians understand the additional needs of these patients and helps families understand their additional difficulties. This paper aims to identify the studies that have been conducted on autism in the eldest and the approaches to detect and diagnose this.

A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Searches were performed on five databases where search terms were based on (1) Autism, (2) Aged/Elderly and (3) Diagnosis. Two authors independently assessed the results with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Quality was assessed using Mixed Method Quality Assessment Tool in included systematic reviews, randomised control trials, case-control studies, cohort studies, case series and case reports.

The review identified 4 diagnostic tools, and 19 screening tools available for use in the elderly. However, most of these tools were not validated in studies focusing on older people and most included a small number of older people in their sample.

Given Australia's ageing population, and resultant increasing demands on healthcare services, this is an important topic to inform future research and clinical practice. More research is required to validate or create diagnostic and screening tools specifically for older people.