P-4 * THREE CASES OF ALCOHOLISM WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Abstract

Introduction. The relationship between alcoholism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been the subject of much recent research. We report herein three patients with alcoholism and a history of ASD. Ethical considerations. Consent was directly obtained from Patients 1 and 2. Care was taken to protect the identities of all three patients. Case reports. Patient 1 was a 34-year-old man. From adolescence onwards,he had few friends and tended to isolate himself. At 21 years old, he began drinking alcohol due to the stress of interpersonal communication. At 29 years old, he was admitted with alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Post-discharge, no relapse has occurred. ASD was confirmed on psychological testing. Patient 2 was a 38-year-old man with a long-term history of anthropophobia. He entered employment at the age 19, but quit employment at age 30 due to the stress of interpersonal communication. After turning to alcohol in order to reduce anxiety, he became an alcoholic. He was admitted at 36 years old. Post-discharge, no relapse has occurred. ASD was confirmed on psychological testing. Patient 3 was a 28-year-old woman with a long-term history of stranger anxiety. She began drinking excessively in order to reduce the stress of interpersonal communication. At 26 years old, she was admitted for alcohol epilepsy. Post-discharge, no relapse has occurred. ASD was confirmed on psychological testing. Discussion. The following characteristics were common to all three patients: ASD; interpersonal communication disorder from a young age; development of alcoholism at a young age; and no difficulty maintaining abstinence after successfully quitting. In connection with alcohol consumption, ASD traits, including strong preferences, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and stereotypies, reportedly result in early addiction, but also work favorably to enable maintained abstinence. These characteristics are consistent with the present patients. The identification of a history of ASD is important for the successful management of alcoholism.