Roozbeh adult autism spectrum disorder clinic: lessons learned from first 34 cases

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex heterogeneous clinical entity with many overlaps and comorbidities with other psychiatric and developmental disorders. Adults with ASD lack adequate access to facilities and supports. This article describes the clinical profile of the first 34 patients admitted to Roozbeh adult ASD clinic during a 12-month period. Twenty-eight patients were male, all were single, 22 patients were unemployed and 26 were living with their families of origin. Obsession, inattention and sexual problems were the most common chief complaints. Multifaceted and gender-specific presentations results in misdiagnoses. Knowledge and training of the mental health professionals on adult ASD seem to be seriously inadequate. There is virtually no other specialized clinical and rehabilitation facilitates to help this vulnerable group of patients in Iran

Keywords:

• adult developmental disorders
• autism spectrum disorder
• adult autism
• comorbidities
• misdiagnosis
• adult autism clinic

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Sluggish Cognitive Tempo also (SCT) called Concentration Deficit Disorder (CDD) is a research entity introduced by Barkley (2012). It is not a DSM diagnosis yet. These patients have significant social and occupational impairments having overlaps symptomatically with both ASD and ADHD diagnoses. it is characterized by daydreaming, sleepiness, staring, “spaciness,” and mental fogginess and confusion, along with a motor dimension of slow movement, hypoactivity, lethargy, and passivity. (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Edited by Russell A. Barkley. Fourth Edition. 2015 The Guilford Press).