Abstract

LUGO, Jorge  and  ALVIANI, Montserrat. Diagnosing psychosis in adults with autism spectrum disorders. Rev. Asoc. Esp. Neuropsiq. [online]. 2017, vol.37, n.131, pp.113-126. ISSN 2340-2733.

There is some controversy in the differential diagnosis of two apparently distinct entities such as psychosis and autism, especially when it comes to adult population. We present three cases of adult patients who were seen in a brief hospitalization unit and where the presence of a possible autism spectrum disorder was evident. In assessing the presence of a psychotic disorder in autism must be addressed the particular characteristics of each diagnosis. Rigid thinking and idiosyncratic speech in the autistic patient may respectively be confused with the typical delusional conviction and disorganization of schizophrenia. An exhaustive analysis of the developmental history of the patient is essential for differential diagnosis. More research on the comorbidity between the two disorders is necessary.

Keywords : autistic disorder; Asperger syndrome; psychosis; differential diagnosis.

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