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Psychotic Symptoms in Autism

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Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Definition

Autism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental disorders that in DSM-V are characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. In addition, individuals diagnosed with ASD may exhibit broader phenomenology including psychotic symptoms. The presence of psychotic symptoms in ASD is a substantial source of morbidity, often being a reason for both hospitalization and the prescription of antipsychotic medications. The relationship between autism spectrum disorders and psychosis is both complex and interesting. Differentiation of these conditions, accurate diagnosis, and appreciation of the comorbidity is often challenging in the light of significant clinical overlap.

ASD and psychotic disorders have overlapping clinical phenomenology, neurobiology, and genetic risk factors. Further, studies have found higher prevalence rates of psychotic disorders, in addition to schizophrenia, in individuals with ASD as...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 300 George Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA

    Zheala Qayyum

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  1. Zheala Qayyum
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Correspondence to Zheala Qayyum .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

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Qayyum, Z. (2017). Psychotic Symptoms in Autism. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102216-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102216-1

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