Kartläggning av psykologers arbetssituation vid neuropsykiatriska utredningar – sammanfattning av SNPF:s rapport

Neuropsychiatric assessments and diagnoses have been a recurring topic in the media, but the working conditions of psychologists involved in these assessments have not been widely discussed.This survey was conducted to examine the working conditions of psychologists. It was carried out as a digital questionnaire during the autumn of 2024, and this report summarizes the results. The questionnaire focused on three main areas: the ability to meet the competence requirements as stated in the ethical guidelines for psychologists in the Nordic countries, the ability to follow the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare’s guidelines for the assessment of autism and ADHD, and the level of ethical stress related to conducting neuropsychiatric assessments.In general, the quantitative responses indicated a predominantly positive working situation. However, the open-ended qualitative responses provided many examples of areas that are not functioning well.In summary, many psychologists report that they have opportunities for professional development and feel they meet the requirements set by both the National Board of Health and Welfare and the ethical guidelines for psychologists. Nevertheless, much remains to be done to ensure both quality in assessments and a healthy work environment for psychologists.The following areas for development were highlighted: opportunities for regular continuing education, improved collaboration after assessments, and a focus on functional impairments during diagnosis—including a shared understanding of the concept of functional impairment and the development of objective methods to assess an individual’s level of impairment. Additionally, concerns were raised that production demands may lead to ethical stress among psychologists, particularly in complex assessments.