Review and Case Study: Aggressive and Self-Injurious Behaviors in a Woman Who Received a Diagnosis of Autism in Adulthood

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by socio-communication impairments and repetitive behaviors or restricted interests. Autistic people with milder symptoms may receive a formal diagnosis only in adulthood. Autism can be accompanied by psychiatric comorbidities as well as self-injurious behaviors, aggressiveness, or irritability, which may hide different underlying causes. To date, only two antipsychotics (i.e., risperidone and aripiprazole) have been approved for the treatment of irritability in children and adolescents with autism by the Food and Drug Administration. However, the clinical management of problem behaviors can be arduous, especially in autistic adults. In this chapter, we present the case of a 30-year-old woman who referred to our psychiatric service for difficulties in socio-communication, emotional dysregulation, and aggressive behaviors. After a specialized diagnostic assessment, a diagnosis of ASD with co-occurrent unspecified mood disorder was performed, and an appropriate treatment was initiated.