Co-occurring ADHD and autism – often referred to as AuDHD – can easily be overlooked in psychological and psychiatric practice. It is not simply the sum of ADHD and autism. Social masking associated with autism may interact with ADHD-related impulsivity to produce a distinctive presentation that can be mistaken for a personality disorder, social anxiety or treatment-resistant depression. This course develops a structured approach to the differential assessment of ADHD, autism and their co-occurrence.
Who this course is for
- Psychologists and psychotherapists who meet adults seeking assessment for ADHD, autism or both.
- Psychotherapy trainees and others training for roles in psychological support.
- Clinicians who conduct ADHD assessments and want to recognise co-occurring autistic features and know when to refer someone for further specialist assessment.
Programme
The course combines theory, assessment tools and work with clinical cases, providing eight teaching hours in total. The modules are interconnected and complement one another, so their order may change. The programme below is indicative; the organiser’s website contains the complete, current version.
- 01
Neurobiological and clinical foundations
- How the presentation of co-occurring ADHD and autism differs from ADHD without co-occurring autism and from autism without co-occurring ADHD
- Where common misconceptions about autism come from and how they affect assessment and diagnosis
- 02
Differential diagnosis
- How to approach three clinical presentations: ADHD, autism and their co-occurrence
- Areas to assess: social communication, cognitive flexibility, sensory processing and identity
- How to avoid the Barnum effect
- 03
Assessment tools and the clinical interview
- How to conduct an autism-focused clinical interview without leading the client’s responses
- How to use the AQ screening measure: norms, limitations and when a score may be clinically meaningful
- The role of collateral or informant interviews and childhood records
- Indications for referral for assessment using ADOS-2 or ADI-R
- 04
ADHD in an autistic person
- How symptoms and features may overlap
- Why medication may work differently
- How to formulate therapeutic and pharmacological recommendations
- 05
Clinical case session
- Complex cases from the instructor’s practice in which the diagnosis was revised
What you will learn
- You will recognise clinical indications of co-occurring autism in a person with ADHD.
- You will know when and why to refer someone for further specialist assessment, including assessment using ADOS-2 or ADI-R.
- You will understand how ADHD may present in an autistic person and take this into account when formulating recommendations.
- You will be able to conduct a clinical interview that supports differential assessment, using appropriate screening measures.
Format and logistics
- Format
- Online
- Duration
- 8 teaching hours
- Scope
- Differential assessment of ADHD, autism and their co-occurrence
- Tools
- AQ; criteria for referral for assessment using ADOS-2 or ADI-R
- Materials
- Slides, differential-diagnostic tables and 30-day access to recordings
- Dates and price
- Current information is available at pro-psyche.pl
Your instructor
Łukasz Warchoł is a psychologist and graduate of the Institute of Psychology at Kazimierz Wielki University, a psychodynamic psychotherapist trained at the Kraków Centre for Psychodynamics, and an EFS & ESSM Certified Psycho-Sexologist. He is currently undertaking specialist training in clinical psychology, with a focus on neuropsychology. He co-founded and leads Propsyche Centrum Medyczne and Promente Clinical Research Centre, and is also a EuroPsy supervisor. In his clinical work, he integrates neuropsychological and neurobiological knowledge with a psychodynamic conceptualisation of psychopathology.
Registration, current dates and the complete programme are managed by Propsyche at pro-psyche.pl.
Register at pro-psyche.plFrequently asked questions
Does this course qualify me to administer ADOS-2 or ADI-R?
No. This is not a course in administering standardised autism assessment instruments such as ADOS-2 or ADI-R; separate certified training is required. The course teaches you how to recognise clinical indications of co-occurring autism in a person with ADHD, when and why to refer someone for further specialist assessment, and how to conduct a clinical interview that supports differential assessment.
Who is this course for?
It is for psychologists, psychotherapists, psychotherapy trainees and others training for roles in psychological support.
What is the format, and how long does the course last?
The course is delivered online and comprises eight teaching hours. Afterwards, participants receive 30-day access to the recordings, together with slides and differential-diagnostic tables.
Is the order of the programme fixed?
No. The modules are interconnected and complement one another, so they may be covered in a different order. The programme is indicative and may be adapted by the instructor in response to participants’ needs.
Where do I register, and where can I find the price?
Registration, current dates and prices are managed by the organiser, Propsyche, at pro-psyche.pl.
Registration is handled by Propsyche (pro-psyche.pl). If you would also like updates about new dates and materials, leave your email address below.
Interested in these courses?
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Have a question about working together, or would you like to arrange a course for your team? Send me a message through the contact form or email me directly at kontakt@lukaszwarchol.com.