TY  - JOUR
AU  - Lehnhardt, F.G.
AU  - Gawronski, A.
AU  - Volpert, K.
AU  - Schilbach, L.
AU  - Tepest, R.
AU  - Huff, W.
AU  - Vogeley, K.
TI  - Das psychosoziale Funktionsniveau spätdiagnostizierter PatientInnen mit hochfunktionalem Autismus im Erwachsenenalter.
JO  - Fortschritte der Neurologie, Psychiatrie
VL  - 80
SN  - 0720-4299
CY  - Stuttgart [u.a.]
PB  - Thieme
M1  - PreJuSER-20486
SP  - 88 - 97
PY  - 2012
N1  - Record converted from VDB: 12.11.2012
AB  - The first time diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) after passing childhood and adolescence is still considered a rare event. However, in recent years an increasing demand for diagnostic clarifications with suspected ASD in adulthood challenges this view. There is insufficient knowledge about the neuropsychological characterisation and psychosocial outcome of this adult subgroup in the autistic spectrum.To determine the psychosocial functioning (living status, partnerships, level of education, psychiatric history) of adult patients with late diagnosed ASD.In a retrospective study, a chart review was conducted on 178 consecutively diagnosed individuals at a specialised outpatient clinic for adults with ASD. Global ratings of psychosocial functioning, assessment of psychiatric history and neuropsychological and psychopathological investigations were evaluated.The majority of patients (92 %) diagnosed with ASD suffered from high-functioning autism (HFA)/Asperger syndrome (AS) according to the criteria of ICD-10 (F84.5). The gender ratio was 2:1 favouring males. Mean age at diagnosis (34.1 ± 9.5 years), general intelligence (HAWIE-R, global-IQ 115 ± 20) and self-rated autistic symptoms (autism spectrum quotient [AQ] 39 ± 6) were not discriminative to gender. The psychiatric history revealed a lifetime consultation rate of 78 %, most frequently with depression (50 %). The self-report instrument Beck depression inventory (BDI) identified 30 % of individuals presenting with depressive symptoms in clinical relevant intensity (BDI > 17). Achievement of an independent living status was reported by 68 % of individuals, 58 % reported about current or past intimate partnerships and almost two-thirds of the patients had achieved a higher educational status.The majority of ASD diagnosed late in lifetime turned out to be HFA/AS, presenting with high psychosocial adjustment with regard to independent living, educational status and partnerships. The high level of global intelligence supports the hypothesis of cognitively compensated autistic disturbances leading to the diagnosis comparably late in lifetime. The lifetime rate of psychiatric consultations is high, reflecting the importance to consider a diagnosis of ASD even late in life.
KW  - Adult
KW  - Age Factors
KW  - Asperger Syndrome: psychology
KW  - Child
KW  - Child Development Disorders, Pervasive: epidemiology
KW  - Child Development Disorders, Pervasive: psychology
KW  - Comorbidity
KW  - Depression: complications
KW  - Depression: psychology
KW  - Educational Status
KW  - Female
KW  - Humans
KW  - International Classification of Diseases
KW  - Interpersonal Relations
KW  - Male
KW  - Mental Disorders: etiology
KW  - Mental Disorders: psychology
KW  - Middle Aged
KW  - Neuropsychological Tests
KW  - Outpatients
KW  - Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
KW  - Retrospective Studies
KW  - Sex Factors
KW  - Social Behavior
KW  - Young Adult
KW  - J (WoSType)
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
C6  - pmid:22086712
UR  - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000300753900012
DO  - DOI:10.1055/s-0031-1281642
UR  - https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/20486
ER  -