Title |
Substance-use disorder in high-functioning autism: clinical and neurocognitive insights from two case reports
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Published in |
BMC Psychiatry, July 2015
|
DOI | 10.1186/s12888-015-0541-7 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Laurence Lalanne, Luisa Weiner, Benoit Trojak, Fabrice Berna, Gilles Bertschy |
Abstract |
Low prevalence of substance-use disorder has been reported in adults with autism. However, on a superficial level, adults with high-functioning autism (HFA) display a 'normal' façade when they drink alcohol, which may explain why their alcohol dependency is not better diagnosed. Here, we report two cases of HFA adults who use alcohol and psychostimulants to cope with their anxiety and improve their cognitive abilities and social skills. We analyze how neurocognitive traits associated with HFA may be potential triggers for substance-use disorder. Better identification of autism and its cognitive impairments, which may be vulnerability traits for developing substance-use disorders, could help improve the diagnosis and treatment of substance-use disorders among this population. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 2 | 40% |
United States | 1 | 20% |
Ireland | 1 | 20% |
Unknown | 1 | 20% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 4 | 80% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 20% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Mexico | 1 | <1% |
Colombia | 1 | <1% |
Argentina | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 131 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 23 | 17% |
Student > Bachelor | 22 | 16% |
Student > Master | 18 | 13% |
Researcher | 15 | 11% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 11 | 8% |
Other | 14 | 10% |
Unknown | 31 | 23% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Psychology | 45 | 34% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 24 | 18% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 8 | 6% |
Social Sciences | 8 | 6% |
Neuroscience | 5 | 4% |
Other | 11 | 8% |
Unknown | 33 | 25% |