A symptom-based approach to treatment of psychosis in autism spectrum disorder
Victoria Bell,
Henry Dunne,
Tharun Zacharia,
Katrina Brooker,
Sukhi Shergill
Affiliations
Victoria Bell
Clinical Psychologist, National Psychosis Unit, South London and Maudsley National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, London, UK. Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
Henry Dunne
Medical Student, King's College London, London, UK
Tharun Zacharia
Specialist Registrar in General Adult and Older Adults Psychiatry, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
Katrina Brooker
Practice Development Nurse, National Psychosis Unit, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
Sukhi Shergill
Professor of Psychiatry and Systems Neuroscience, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK; Consultant Psychiatrist, National Psychosis Unit, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
The optimal management of autism with psychosis remains unclear. This report describes a 22-year-old man with autism and psychosis who was referred to a tertiary-level specialist psychosis service, following a 6-year history of deterioration in mental health starting around the time of sitting GCSE examinations and an episode of bullying at school. We describe the individualised symptom-based approach that was effective in his treatment.
