Abstract
We compared the presence of autistic and comorbid psychopathology and functional impairments in young adults who received a clinical diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified or Asperger’s Disorder during childhood to that of a referred comparison group. While the Autism Spectrum Disorder group on average scored higher on a dimensional ASD self- and other-report measure than clinical controls, the majority did not exceed the ASD cutoff according to the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. Part of the individuals with an ASD diagnosis in their youth no longer show behaviors that underscribe a clinical ASD diagnosis in adulthood, but have subtle difficulties in social functioning and a vulnerability for a range of other psychiatric disorders.
Highlights
There has been a sharp rise in the measured prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the last decade
In this study we investigated the symptomatic and functional characteristics of young adults who had been diagnosed with PDD-NOS or Asperger’s Disorder before age 19 in regular secondary mental health care
We compared their outcomes with those in a group of young adults previously diagnosed in the same mental health institution with other forms of psychopathology
Summary
There has been a sharp rise in the measured prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the last decade. Limited data are available that describe topics like the symptom presentation of ASD in adulthood, the validity of diagnostic instruments in adulthood, the contribution of various sources of information to the diagnostic process (e.g. self- and other-report questionnaires, structured clinical observation), and comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders Because these are important components of the (differential) diagnosis of autism in adulthood, achieving a Center, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands 4 Present Address: GGZ Friesland, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands better understanding of these topics is especially relevant for more accurate diagnostic assessment in clinical practice. In the current paper we aim to explore the manifestation of ASD and comorbidity in adults who had a clinical diagnosis of milder ASD during childhood or adolescence according to multiple perspectives (i.e. structured observation, other- and self-report)
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