Self injuries in adolescence, an unusual clinical presentation of autism

Abstract

Introduction

Although autism is only twice more common in men than women in general population, in clinical samples women are underrepresented. This difference may be due to a poor sensitivity of current diagnostic criteria of autism related to females. We present a 13-year-old woman referred to the adolescent psychiatric unit for anxiety, self injuries and suicidal ideation. After careful assessment of current symptoms and neurodevelopmental milestones, deficits in emotional-comunicational reciprocity, nonverbal comunication and relationships emerged, as well as inflexible adherence to routines and restricted interests. The diagnose of autism spectrum disorder was made and the patient started a specific treatment.

Objectives

To review the clinical features of autism spectrum disorders in adolescent females and its differential diagnosis.

Methods

Review of the literature on autism spectrum disorders in female and its specific features.

Results

The “Female Autism Phenotype” is a group features that are more common in autistic women, as opposed to the classic symptoms of autism in men. Some of these differential characteristics are: fewer social impairments and higher levels of social motivation; more age and gender appropriate restricted and repetitive interests; more internalizing rather than externalizing symptoms; and a tendency towards camouflaging

Conclusions

- Autism in women is frequently underdiagnosed. - Females express autism in ways that not allways meet the current diagnostic criteria. - The “Female Autism Phenotype” has been proposed as an specific way of expression of autism in females.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.