The 'lost generation' in adult psychiatry : psychiatric, neurodevelopmental and sociodemographic characteristics of psychiatric patients with autism unrecognised in childhood
Nyrenius, Johan LU
; Eberhard, Jonas
LU
; Ghaziuddin, Mohammad
; Gillberg, Christopher
and Billstedt, Eva
(2023)
In BJPsych Open
9(3).
- Abstract
Background Patients with 'underlying' autism spectrum disorder (ASD) constitute a significant minority in adult out-patient psychiatry. Diagnoses of previously unrecognised ASD are increasing in adults. Characteristics of patients with autism within adult out-patient psychiatry have not been sufficiently explored, and there have not been any systematic comparisons of characteristics between patients with and those without autism within adult out-patient psychiatric populations. Aims To examine psychiatrically relevant characteristics in autistic adult psychiatric out-patients, and to compare the characteristics with non-autistic adult psychiatric out-patients. Method We assessed 90 patients who were referred to a Swedish psychiatric... (More)
Background Patients with 'underlying' autism spectrum disorder (ASD) constitute a significant minority in adult out-patient psychiatry. Diagnoses of previously unrecognised ASD are increasing in adults. Characteristics of patients with autism within adult out-patient psychiatry have not been sufficiently explored, and there have not been any systematic comparisons of characteristics between patients with and those without autism within adult out-patient psychiatric populations. Aims To examine psychiatrically relevant characteristics in autistic adult psychiatric out-patients, and to compare the characteristics with non-autistic adult psychiatric out-patients. Method We assessed 90 patients who were referred to a Swedish psychiatric out-patient clinic and screened for ASD during 2019-2020. Sixty-three patients met the DSM-5 criteria for ASD or 'subthreshold' ASD. The 27 who did not meet the criteria for ASD were used as a comparison group. Assessments were made with structured and well-validated instruments, including parent ratings of developmental history. Results No differences were found between the groups regarding self-reported sociodemographic variables. The ASD group showed a higher number of co-occurring psychiatric disorders than the non-ASD group (t(88) = 5.17, 95% CI 1.29-2.91, d = 1.19). Functional level was lower in the ASD group (t(88) = -2.66, 95% CI -9.46 to -1.27, d = -0.73), and was predicted by the number of co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Conclusions The results underscore the need for thorough assessment of psychiatric disorders in autistic patients in adult psychiatric services. ASD should be considered as a possible 'underlying' condition in adult psychiatry, and there is no easy way of ruling out ASD in this population.
(Less)
- author
- Nyrenius, Johan
LU
; Eberhard, Jonas
LU
; Ghaziuddin, Mohammad
; Gillberg, Christopher
and Billstedt, Eva
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- adults, Autism spectrum disorder, comorbidity, neurodevelopmental disorders, psychiatry
- in
- BJPsych Open
- volume
- 9
- issue
- 3
- article number
- e89
- publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:37222104
- scopus:85160950369
- ISSN
- 2056-4724
- DOI
- 10.1192/bjo.2023.13
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- ad597eca-6550-473f-960b-81532952ab83
- date added to LUP
- 2023-08-21 12:56:24
- date last changed
- 2025-03-09 07:48:27
@article{ad597eca-6550-473f-960b-81532952ab83,
abstract = {{<p>Background Patients with 'underlying' autism spectrum disorder (ASD) constitute a significant minority in adult out-patient psychiatry. Diagnoses of previously unrecognised ASD are increasing in adults. Characteristics of patients with autism within adult out-patient psychiatry have not been sufficiently explored, and there have not been any systematic comparisons of characteristics between patients with and those without autism within adult out-patient psychiatric populations. Aims To examine psychiatrically relevant characteristics in autistic adult psychiatric out-patients, and to compare the characteristics with non-autistic adult psychiatric out-patients. Method We assessed 90 patients who were referred to a Swedish psychiatric out-patient clinic and screened for ASD during 2019-2020. Sixty-three patients met the DSM-5 criteria for ASD or 'subthreshold' ASD. The 27 who did not meet the criteria for ASD were used as a comparison group. Assessments were made with structured and well-validated instruments, including parent ratings of developmental history. Results No differences were found between the groups regarding self-reported sociodemographic variables. The ASD group showed a higher number of co-occurring psychiatric disorders than the non-ASD group (t(88) = 5.17, 95% CI 1.29-2.91, d = 1.19). Functional level was lower in the ASD group (t(88) = -2.66, 95% CI -9.46 to -1.27, d = -0.73), and was predicted by the number of co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Conclusions The results underscore the need for thorough assessment of psychiatric disorders in autistic patients in adult psychiatric services. ASD should be considered as a possible 'underlying' condition in adult psychiatry, and there is no easy way of ruling out ASD in this population.</p>}},
author = {{Nyrenius, Johan and Eberhard, Jonas and Ghaziuddin, Mohammad and Gillberg, Christopher and Billstedt, Eva}},
issn = {{2056-4724}},
keywords = {{adults; Autism spectrum disorder; comorbidity; neurodevelopmental disorders; psychiatry}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
publisher = {{Cambridge University Press}},
series = {{BJPsych Open}},
title = {{The 'lost generation' in adult psychiatry : psychiatric, neurodevelopmental and sociodemographic characteristics of psychiatric patients with autism unrecognised in childhood}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.13}},
doi = {{10.1192/bjo.2023.13}},
volume = {{9}},
year = {{2023}},
}