Comorbidity and Asperger's Syndrome

T. Berney and P. Shannon, Inaugural Autism Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 10 - 14th November 2002, European Services for People with Autism (ESPA), Sunderland, UK.

ESPA has developed a specialist residential college from the Further Education of People with Asperger's Syndrome. It has been open for four years and this reviews the high level of comorbidity, particularly obsessive compulsive and affective disorders, and the relationship to the person's progress through the college. ESPA is a charity that has established a variety of community resources for adults with autism that include two Further Education colleges. One of these is for young people who are of normal IQ comprising the college itself (Tasker House) and a residential hall (Westfield Hall). It has been open for four years and 90 students have been to Tasker House of whom 55 have been residential.

Who does well?

1. Those with a psychiatric disorder where there is acceptance and agreement to
2. the diagnosis - openness - reports from all
3. the plan of management - family support for the plan
4. Those who are able to cope with the relative autonomy of a College placement
5. Those who are confident of their future plan - i.e. the continued commitment of their community agencies
6. Those who want to use the college as an educational placement and who want to be there
7. Those who understand and accept the FE culture
   a) attend college
   b) move on after 2-3 years
   

Who don't do well

1. Those with unidentified/ concealed problems ('a fresh start')
2. Those with entrenched patterns of behaviour that require a high level of supervision and external control
   a) OCD
   b) Conduct disorders and personality disorders
   
3. Those who do not want to use the college - who have been sent by others.