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Lifelong Eccentricity and Social Isolation

I. Psychiatric, Social, and Forensic Aspects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Digby Tantam
Digby Tantam*
Affiliation:
University Hospital of South Manchester, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 8LR
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Abstract

Sixty individuals are described who have lifelong eccentricity and social isolation and who have sought psychiatric treatment as a direct or an indirect result. They were predominantly young and, as in other samples of autistic people, male (6M: 1F). Most of them were of normal intelligence. They were all profoundly socially handicapped: few had lived independently, had lasting sexual relationships or spent much time in employment. Nearly a half of the subjects had been involved in antisocial behaviour at some stage. Nearly a quarter had committed a criminal offence. Violence was usually domestic, most often directed against the mother. Forty-eight per cent of subjects had a second psychiatric disorder (11.7% had a psychosis).

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 153 , Issue 6 , December 1988 , pp. 777 - 782
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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