title: Autistic syndrome with onset at age 31 years: herpes encephalitis as a possible model for childhood autism.
abstract: The author describes a previously healthy man who contracted herpes encephalitis at the age of 31 years, and over the following months developed all the symptoms considered diagnostic of autism. This case report casts doubt on the notion of autism as an exclusively developmental disorder. It is suggested that temporal lobe damage may cause autism in some cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Child Psychiatry, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Gillberg
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000209:etiology*; D003142:Communication; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012919:Social Behavior