title: Differential diagnosis between schizophrenia and autism in adulthood: a case report.
abstract: The clinical distinction between autism spectrum disorders (ASD), also called pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), and schizophrenia is often difficult to make. Here we describe a case of an adult patient presenting with a diagnosis of schizophrenia based on a history of functional deterioration and presumed persecutory delusions. A psychiatric and psychological assessment conducted from a developmental perspective, in association with direct observation and neuropsychological evaluation for intellectual disabilities and autism, led to a diagnosis of PDD not otherwise specified, with revision of the initial diagnosis of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neuroscience , University of Turin , Turin , Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crivelli
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rocca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*