他の精神疾患との鑑別が困難であったアスペルガー症候群の一例

Abstract

Asperger's syndrome(AS) is a pervasive developmental disorder character- ized by social impairments and rigid and repetitive interests or behaviors. In contrast to the social presentation in autism, individuals with AS find themselves socially isolated but are not usually withdrawn in presence of other people, typically approaching others but in an inappropriate or eccentric fashion. It is difficult to distinguish AS from high-functional autism, attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and personality disorder. Here we describe the case of a 35-year-old female who was diagnosed with AS. She had been diagnosed as having schizophrenia or borderline personality disorder because of her depressive mood and impulsive acts(e.g., self-mutilation, suicide attempts and violent behaviors). Detailed psychological interviews and several psychological tests revealed that she was afflicted with the disorder. The practical implications of delayed diagnosis may adversely affect the prognosis in her case. It is important for her family members to understand her social disabilities and for her to acquire appropriate social skills.