Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

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

  • Original Contribution
  • Published:
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This follow-up study reports data on 18 children fulfilling the ICD-10 criteria for childhood autism (n=9) and Asperger syndrome (n=9). In connection with the present study the original child psychiatric records were reassessed according to the ICD-10 criteria. The children were followed over a period of 30 years. The mean age at the time of study was 38 years. The results show that in adulthood the autistic patients had a poorer outcome than children with Asperger syndrome as regards education, employment, autonomy, marriage, reproduction and the need for continuing medical and institutional care. Particular attention is given to pharmacotherapy and the relationship between the childhood disorder and psychiatric morbidity in adult life.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.

References

  1. Baron-Cohen S (1988) An assessment of violence in a young man with Asperger Syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 29:351–360

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dahl V (1972) A follow-up study of a child psychiatric clientele with special regard to manic-depressive psychosis. In: Annef A (Ed.), Depressive states in childhood and adolescence (pp. 534–541). Stockholm: Almquist & Wiksell

    Google Scholar 

  3. Dahl V (1976) A follow-up study of a child psychiatric clientele with special regard to the diagnosis of psychosis. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 54:106–12

    Google Scholar 

  4. DeMeyer MK, Barton S, DeMeyer WE, Norton JA, Allen J, Steel R (1973) Prognosis in autism: A follow-up study. Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia 3:199–245

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ehlers S, Gillberg C (1993) The epidemiology of Asperger Syndrome. A total population study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 34:1327–1350

    Google Scholar 

  6. Gillberg C (1989) Asperger Syndrome in 23 Swedish children. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 31:520–531

    Google Scholar 

  7. Gillberg C (1991) Outcome in autism and autistic-like conditions. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 30:375–382

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gillberg C (1992) Autism and autisticlike conditions: Subclasses among disorders of empathy. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 33:813–842

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gillberg C, Steffenburg S (1987) Outcome and prognostic factors in infantile autism and similar conditions: A population based study of 46 cases followed through puberty. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 17:273–287

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gillberg C, Kopp S (1992) Hypothyroidism and autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 33:531–542

    Google Scholar 

  11. Green WH, Campbell M, Hardesty AS, Grega DM, Padron-Gayol M, Shell J, Erlenmeyer-Kimling L (1984) A com parison of schizophrenic and autistic children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 23:399–1109

    Google Scholar 

  12. Howells JG, Guirguis WR (1984) Childhood schizophrenia 20 years later. Archives of General Psychiatry 41:123–128

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kanner L (1971) Follow-up study of eleven autistic children originally reported in 1943. Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia 1:119–145

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kanner L, Rodriguez A, Ashenden B (1972) How far can autistic children go in matters of social adaptation? Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia 2:9–33

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kobayashi R, Murata T, Yoshinaga K (1992) A follow-up study of 201 children with autism in Kyushu and Yamaguchi areas, Japan. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 22:395–411

    Google Scholar 

  16. Larsen FW (1991) A 30-year follow-up study of a child psychiatric clientele. II. Psychiatric morbidity. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 84:65–71

    Google Scholar 

  17. Larsen FW, Dahl V, Hallum E (1990) A 30-year follow-up study of a child psychiatric clientele. I. Demographic de scription. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 81:39–45

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lockyer L, Rutter M (1969) A five to fifteen-year follow-up study of infantile psychosis: III. Psychological aspects. British Journal of Psychiatry 115:865–882

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lockyer L, Rutter M (1970) A five to fifteen-year follow-up study of infantile psychosis: IV. Patterns of cognitive abilities. British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 9:152–163

    Google Scholar 

  20. Lord C, Venter A (1992) Outcome and follow-up studies of high-functioning autistic individuals. In: Schopler E, Mcsibov CB (Eds.), High-functioning individuals with autism. (pp 187–199). New York: Plenum Press

    Google Scholar 

  21. Lotter V (1974) Factors related to outcome in autistic children. Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia 4:263–277

    Google Scholar 

  22. Lotter V (1978) Follow-up studies. In: Rutter M, Schopler E (Eds.), Autism a reappraisal of concepts and treatment (pp. 475–495). New York: Plenum Press

    Google Scholar 

  23. Munk-Jørgensen P (1986) Schizophrenia in Denmark. Incidence and utilization of psychiatric institutions. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 73:172–180

    Google Scholar 

  24. Rumsey JM, Rapoport JL, Sceery WR (1985) Autistic children as adults: Psychiatric, social, and behavioral out comes. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 24:465–473

    Google Scholar 

  25. Scragg P, Shah A (1994) Prevalence of Asperger's syndrome in a secure hospital. British Journal of Psychiatry 165:679–682

    Google Scholar 

  26. Steffenburg S, Gillberg C (1986) Autism and autistic-like conditions in Sweden rural and urban areas: A population study. British Journal of Psychiatry 149:81–87

    Google Scholar 

  27. Szatmari P, Bartolucci G, Bremner R, Bond S, Rich S (1989) A follow-up study of high-functioning autistic chil dren. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 19:213–225

    Google Scholar 

  28. Venter A, Lord C, Schopler E (1992) A follow-up study of high-functioning autistic children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 33:498–507

    Google Scholar 

  29. Volkmar FR, Cohen DJ (1991) Comorbid association of autism and schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry 148:1705–1707

    Google Scholar 

  30. von Knorring A-L, Hägglöf B (1993) Autism in northern Sweden. A population based follow-up study: Psycho pathology. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2:91–97

    Google Scholar 

  31. Wing L (1991) The relationship between Asperger's Syndrome and Kanner's autism. In Frith U (Ed.), Autism and As perger syndrome (pp 93–121). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

    Google Scholar 

  32. Wolff S (1992) Psychiatric morbidity and criminality in “schizoid” children grown-up: A record survey. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1:214–221

    Google Scholar 

  33. Wolff S, Townshend R, McGuire RJ, Weeks D (1991) ‘Schizoid’ personality in childhood and adult life II: Adult adjustment and the continuity with schizotypal personality disorder. British Journal of Psychiatry 159:620–629

    Google Scholar 

  34. Wolff S, McGuire RJ (1995) Schizoid personality in girls: A follow-up study — what are the links with Aspergers's syn drome? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 36:793–817

    Google Scholar 

  35. World Health Organization (1990) ICD10. Draft of chapter V Mental and Behavioural Disorders. Geneva: WHO.

    Google Scholar 

  36. World Health Organization (1993) The ICD-10 classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders. Diagnostic criteria for research. Geneva: WHO

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child Psychiatry, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    F. W. Larsen & S. E. Mouridsen

Authors
  1. F. W. Larsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. E. Mouridsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Larsen, F.W., Mouridsen, S.E. 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. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 6, 181–190 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00539924

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00539924

Key words

Search

Navigation