title: Unexpected subthreshold autism spectrum in a 25-year-old male stalker hospitalized for delusional disorder: a case report.
abstract: This paper highlights the clinical challenges faced when assessing patients with stalking behaviors with psychotic disorders, suggesting the need for an accurate assessment of adult autism spectrum symptoms. A 25-year-old man with a diagnosis of delusional disorder, erotomanic type, was hospitalized for acute psychotic symptoms occurred in the framework of a repeated stalking behavior towards his ex girlfriend. When assessed for adult autism spectrum symptoms upon an accurate clinical evaluation, he reported elevated scores in the mentalizing deficit and social anxiety domains by means of the 14 item Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale (RAADS-14). Authors discuss a possible role of adult (subthreshold) autism spectrum symptoms, generally disregarded in adult psychiatry, on the type of psychotic features and stalking behavior developed that may help for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dell'Osso
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dalle Luche
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cerliani
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo Antonio
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bertelloni
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gesi
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: ccarmassi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carmassi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000150:complications*; D055807:Stalking / Q000150:complications*