skip to main content

Autism Diagnostic Assessment — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

EasyChild & Adolescent PsychiatryAutism Diagnostic AssessmentMRCPsych Paper B

A 10-year-old boy is referred to a specialist autism team because of longstanding difficulties with reciprocal social interaction, communication and restricted behaviours. According to NICE CG128, which approach should be used to assess whether he is autistic?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B — A multidisciplinary assessment combining developmental history, direct observation and information across settings, with autism-specific tools used only as aids

Explanation lettering: E = shown as A · D = shown as C · A = shown as D · C = shown as E

B is correct. NICE recommends a comprehensive assessment by the specialist autism team. This should include a developmental history, direct interaction with and observation of the child, information about functioning across settings, assessment of differential and coexisting conditions, and integration of all available information using clinical judgement. An autism-specific instrument may help structure the history or observation, but NICE does not mandate ADOS-2 or ADI-R and states that no autism-specific tool should be used alone to make the diagnosis. The PHQ-9 assesses depressive symptoms, the MMSE screens adult cognitive function, and the Conners scales primarily assess ADHD-related symptoms. The SDQ is a broad behavioural screening questionnaire and cannot establish an autism diagnosis by itself.

Reference: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: recognition, referral and diagnosis (CG128), recommendations 1.5.5, 1.5.10 and 1.5.11. 2011, updated 2017. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg128/chapter/Recommendations