Asperger syndrome (AS) – colloquially called Asperger’s disease – (ICD-10-GM F84.5: Asperger’s syndrome) refers to a person’s “seclusion” from the outside world. Affected individuals encapsulate themselves in their own world of thought and imagination.
Asperger syndrome is characterized by “disturbances in social interaction,” “disturbances in communication,” and “repetitive, stereotyped behaviors and special interests.” Sex ratio: boys to girls 8: 1.
Prevalence peak: Asperger’s syndrome usually occurs at school age.
The prevalence (frequency of illness) for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is 0.9-1.1%. It is assumed that for every three diagnosed patients, there are two patients whose disorder has not yet been diagnosed. The incidence (frequency of new cases) of Asperger syndrome is about 20-30 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year.
Course and prognosis: The “milder” manifestations within the autistic spectrum are usually Asperger syndrome (AS). Asperger’s patients show three core autistic symptoms: “Disorder of social interaction”, “Disorder of communication” and “Restricted interests and repetitive behavior patterns”. One in two affected individuals with AS suffers from comorbid anxiety disorders or depression.
Comorbidities: Up to 70% of patients with AS suffer from comorbidities, especially anxiety disorders or depression. In adults without intellectual impairment diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, the prevalence rate of personality disorders is very high, but affective disorders, anxiety disorders, ADHD, tic disorders, psychotic disorders, and other disorders are often comorbid. Other possible comorbidities include bipolar disorder, epilepsy (seizures), eating disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAS), insomnia (sleep disorders), mutism (lat. mutitas “muteness,” mutus “mute”; psychogenic silence), psychosis, self-injurious behavior, social phobia, Tourette syndrome (synonym: Gilles-de-la-Tourette syndrome, GTS; a neurological-psychiatric disorder characterized by the presence of tics), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance abuse.
