P0308 - Autism in adulthood: 48 months follow-up evaluation of the farmstead community model

Abstract

Background:

Many authors punctuate the lack of knowledge about the evolution of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) in adulthood (Howlin et al., 2004). This deficiency leads to an almost absolute absence of long term care structures specifically conceived for autistic adults; hence, they usually live at parental home, or they are admitted into mental institutions which are not suitable for cognitive and adaptive peculiarities of autistic disturbance (Barale & Ucelli, 2006).

Aim:

Among the limited ad hoc solutions, the present research concentrated on the farmstead community model, which utilizes the rural setting in order to plan rehabilitation projects (Giddan & Giddan, 1993); the aim was to establish whether the farm community model can positively affect the long-term outcome.

Methods:

A 48 months follow-up study was performed; the sample, recruited from the community “Cascina Rossago”, was composed of 10 adults (1F, 9M; mean age: 29.4 years) affected by ASD and mental retardation (APA, 2000). The construct of adaptive behaviour, assessed by Vineland Scales (Sparrow et al., 1984), was chosen to achieve a fitting measure of global functioning; data survey was both retrospective (chart review) and prospective.

Results:

Paired samples t-tests showed significant differences between T1 and T2 with regard to “Composite Scale” (t(9)=3.354; p<.01), “Communication” subscale (t(9)=2.449; p<.05) and “Socialization” subscale (t(14)=2.613; p<.05); the “Daily Living Skills” subscale demonstrated a borderline p-value (t(9)=2.250; p=0.0510).

Conclusions:

These results indicate that farmstead community environment can produce a favourable effect on adaptive behaviour, especially in those areas which represent the chronic core of autistic symptoms.