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Behavior Problems, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Quality of Life for Older Adults With Intellectual Disability With and Without Autism

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Abstract

The evidence base on outcomes associated with autism in older adulthood is limited. The expected increase in the prevalence of older adults with autism highlights the need to describe their profiles and service needs. Adults 50 years or older with an intellectual disability (ID) and the triad of impairments characteristic of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were compared to peers with ID only, and younger adults with ASD and ID. After accounting for ability differences, older adults with ASD did not differ from those with ID in terms of behavior problems, psychiatric disorder, and quality of life. Any differences in the skills of adults with ASD were associated with decreased adaptive skills, and not the presence of ASD per se.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Bangor University, Brigantia Building, Penrallt Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales, LL57 2AS, UK

    Vasiliki Totsika & Richard P. Hastings

  2. Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK

    David Felce & Michael Kerr

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  1. Vasiliki Totsika
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  2. David Felce
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  3. Michael Kerr
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  4. Richard P. Hastings
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Correspondence to Vasiliki Totsika.

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Totsika, V., Felce, D., Kerr, M. et al. Behavior Problems, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Quality of Life for Older Adults With Intellectual Disability With and Without Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 40, 1171–1178 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-0975-1

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