ABSTRACT
This chapter examines psychiatric and behavioral outcomes in 14 men with clearly documented early childhood diagnoses of autism compatible with DSM-III criteria. It focuses on the long-term continuity in symptoms and disability, of particular interest because of the advanced age of this sample as compared with other systematically studied groups. Autistic men were sought nationwide through organizations and school programs which serve children and adults with autism for participation in a PET scan study which required subjects to be at least 18 years of age and in good physical health. Residual social impairments and varied residual psychiatric and behavioral symptoms were seen in all subjects. Marked social improprieties, such as inappropriate nudity or partial undress on the ward and inappropriate comments even in some high functioning patients. Such behaviors appeared to stem from poor social awareness and immaturity in all cases, rather than sexual interest.
