Misdiagnosis of High Function Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adults: An Italian Case Series
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: \nHigh Function (HF) Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in adulthood is highly prevalent but insufficiently \nrecognized. In Italy, in particular, awareness of this condition is still insufficient and many psychiatrists have no cases \nof HF ASD to mention. Adult patients with HF ASD come to the attention of Mental Health Services complaining of \ndifficulties within their social context and interpersonal relationships. \nObjectives: Describe emblematic clinical examples of misdiagnosed HF ASD to understand reasons that \nconducted to misdiagnosis. \nProcedure: We contact five specialized Italian Center in diagnosis of ASD. Each center have to describe two \nor three emblematic cases of adult patient with diagnosis of ASD validated by ADOS-4 but referred to clinicians with \nanother diagnosis, discussing about possible reasons of misdiagnosis. \nSample and Results: We have collected 12 case reports (2 from Bologna center, 3 from Torino center, 3 \nfrom Pavia center, 2 from Verona center and 2 from Catania center) of adult HF ASD previously misdiagnosed. \nThese cases shows important similarity across centers and highlight that if are taken into account only problems \nor symptoms that conduct patients to ask help, cases can easily suggest other psychiatric or personality disorders. \nDiagnosis becomes clear only after considering all the clinical features and a detailed developmental history. \nConclusion: Psychiatrists who have insufficient experience of ASD may overlook some symptoms of the overall \nclinical picture and misdiagnose ASD as personality disorders, schizophrenia, phobia or even as a non-psychiatric \ncondition, so is hopeful for future increased knowledge about HF ASD in adulthood.
Source: Autism - Open Access
Authors: Candida Luciano, Roberto Keller
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W2319858511