Asperger syndrome and bipolar disorder comorbidity in an adult: a case report

Abstract

Asperger’s Syndrome is characterized by social communication disorder, stereotypic behaviors and narrow fields of interest, and classified in pervasive developmental disorders. It is separated from the classic childhood autism by the absence of delay in language development and cognitive skills. Although it is diagnosed generally in childhood, it can be noticed at a later age compared to autism. One reason for this, is that in patients with Asperger’s Syndrome comorbid psychiatric conditions are common. Bipolar disorder is suggested to be mostly related with Asperger’s Syndrome in all autism spectrum disorders. Herein, we present a 22 year old male case, who has been previously followed with different diagnoses such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder, hospitalized to our clinic due to depressive symptoms and diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and comorbid bipolar disorder through detailed history-taking and family interviews. The case is important because, it demonstrates that due to other comorbid diagnoses, the underlying Asperger’s Syndrome may be overlooked for years.