§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the appropriate qualifications and experience required of psychiatrists treating(a) in-patients and (b) out-patients who have an autistic spectrum disorder. [178955]
§ Dr. LadymanNone. This is a professional matter. It is the responsibility of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the number of people with Asperger's syndrome who are misdiagnosed as schizophrenic. [178957]
§ Dr. LadymanNone. Where people have Asperger's syndrome or any other form of autistic spectrum disorder, it is important to distinguish behaviours due to their autism from any that might be attributable to a mental health problem in order to ensure that anti-psychotic drugs are prescribed only where they are appropriate.