Psychosocial Functioning in a Group of Swedish Adults with Asperger Syndrome or High- Functioning Autism

This study reports on psychosocial functioning in Swedish adults with Asperger syndrome (AS) or high-functioning autism (HFA). A systematically selected sample of patients and relatives was interviewed concerning their psychosocial situation. The majority was living independently. All persons but one were unemployed. None was married and none had children. Only a few had some kind of partner. Most persons needed a high level of public and/or private support. The overall adjustment was rated good in 12 percent, fair in 75 percent and poor in 12 percent. Adult persons with AS/HFA have extensive need for support from their families and/or society. This information is important in order to provide adequate interventions that are in accordance with the expressed needs of the individuals themselves.

[1]  M. Rutter,et al.  Autism and developmental receptive language disorder--a comparative follow-up in early adult life. I: Cognitive and language outcomes. , 2000, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[2]  S. E. Mouridsen,et al.  The outcome in children with childhood autism and Asperger syndrome originally diagnosed as psychotic. A 30-year follow-up study of subjects hospitalized as children , 1997, European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

[3]  P. Szatmari.  Differential Diagnosis of Asperger Disorder , 1998 .

[4]  M. Lindhardt.  [Follow-up studies]. , 1951, Ugeskrift for laeger.

[5]  C. Lord,et al.  A follow-up study of high-functioning autistic children. , 1992, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[6]  M. Rutter,et al.  Autism , 1978, Springer US.

[7]  H. Asperger,et al.  'Autistic psychopathy' in childhood. , 1991 .

[8]  J. Rumsey,et al.  Autistic children as adults: psychiatric, social, and behavioral outcomes. , 1985, Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry.

[9]  G. Dunn,et al.  The Camberwell Assessment of Need: The Validity and Reliability of an Instrument to Assess the Needs of People with Severe Mental Illness , 1995, British Journal of Psychiatry.

[10]  Patricia Howlin,et al.  Outcome in Adult Life for more Able Individuals with Autism or Asperger Syndrome , 2000 .

[11]  C. Gillberg,et al.  Asperger syndrome--some epidemiological considerations: a research note. , 1989, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[12]  C. Gillberg.  Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism , 1998, British Journal of Psychiatry.

[13]  C. Gillberg,et al.  The long‐term course of autistic disorders: update on follow‐up studies , 1998, Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica.

[14]  Lorna Wing,et al.  The definition and prevalence of autism: A review , 2005, European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

[15]  Follow-up study of eleven autistic children originally reported in 1943 , 1971, Journal of autism and childhood schizophrenia.

[16]  U. Frith,et al.  Autism and Asperger Syndrome , 1992 .

[17]  P. Szatmari,et al.  A follow-up study of high-functioning autistic children , 1989, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[18]  M K DeMyer,et al.  Infantile autism reviewed: a decade of research. , 1981, Schizophrenia bulletin.

[19]  L. Wing,et al.  Asperger's syndrome: a clinical account , 1981, Psychological Medicine.

[20]  H. Koot,et al.  The epidemiology of child and adolescent psychopathology , 1995 .

[21]  C. Gillberg,et al.  The epidemiology of Asperger syndrome. A total population study. , 1993, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.