title: Aspects of Sexuality in Adolescents and Adults Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Childhood.
abstract: The literature concerning sexuality in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is limited regarding inappropriate sexual behaviours and paraphilias and its relation to age, verbal ability, symptom severity, intellectual ability, or adaptive functioning. A cohort of 184 adolescents and young adults (ages 15-39 years) with ASD diagnosed in childhood, including both low and high functioning individuals, was examined. The large majority were found to have a sexual interest and showed interest towards the opposite sex. Inappropriate sexual behaviours and paraphilias were reported for about a fourth of the individuals. No relationships were found between inappropriate sexual behaviours and any of the background variables listed above. However, associations were found between paraphilias and ASD symptom severity, intellectual ability, and adaptive functioning.
authors.affiliation: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Kungsgatan 12, 411 19, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lucrecia Cabral
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Kungsgatan 12, 411 19, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carina I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Gillberg
authors.affiliation: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Kungsgatan 12, 411 19, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cederlund
authors.affiliation: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Kungsgatan 12, 411 19, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bibbi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hagberg
authors.affiliation: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Kungsgatan 12, 411 19, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gillberg
authors.affiliation: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Kungsgatan 12, 411 19, Gothenburg, Sweden. eva.billstedt@gnc.gu.se.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Billstedt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010262:Paraphilic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019529:Sexuality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asperger syndrome; Autism spectrum disorders; Autistic disorder; Paraphilia; Sexuality