title: Substance-use disorder in high-functioning autism: clinical and neurocognitive insights from two case reports.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low prevalence of substance-use disorder has been reported in adults with autism. However, on a superficial level, adults with high-functioning autism (HFA) display a 'normal' façade when they drink alcohol, which may explain why their alcohol dependency is not better diagnosed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we report two cases of HFA adults who use alcohol and psychostimulants to cope with their anxiety and improve their cognitive abilities and social skills. We analyze how neurocognitive traits associated with HFA may be potential triggers for substance-use disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better identification of autism and its cognitive impairments, which may be vulnerability traits for developing substance-use disorders, could help improve the diagnosis and treatment of substance-use disorders among this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Strasbourg University Hospital, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67000, Strasbourg, France. laurence.lalanne@chru-strasbourg.fr.|INSERM 1114, FMTS, Strasbourg University Hospital, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67000, Strasbourg, France. laurence.lalanne@chru-strasbourg.fr.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lalanne
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Strasbourg University Hospital, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67000, Strasbourg, France. luisa.weiner@chru-strasbourg.fr.|INSERM 1114, FMTS, Strasbourg University Hospital, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67000, Strasbourg, France. luisa.weiner@chru-strasbourg.fr.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weiner
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France. benoit.trojak@chu-dijon.fr.|EA 4452, LPPM, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France. benoit.trojak@chu-dijon.fr.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trojak
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Strasbourg University Hospital, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67000, Strasbourg, France. fabrice.berna@chru-strasbourg.fr.|INSERM 1114, FMTS, Strasbourg University Hospital, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67000, Strasbourg, France. fabrice.berna@chru-strasbourg.fr.
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berna
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Strasbourg University Hospital, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67000, Strasbourg, France. gilles.berstchy@chru-strasbourg.fr.|INSERM 1114, FMTS, Strasbourg University Hospital, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67000, Strasbourg, France. gilles.berstchy@chru-strasbourg.fr.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertschy
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants