What disorders look similar to autism?

Post Reply New Topic

I'm just curious what disorders can be mistaken for autism and vice versa by people who don't know exactly what to look for. The ones I can think of are ADHD, schizophrenia, certain personality disorders (mainly schizoid and schizotypal). What else is there?

I've been diagnosed with both schizoid personality and autism.

In "classic" autism, there's no mistake. There's frequent co-morbidity with other disorders. There are "classic" symptoms which have been described--first, by Leo Kanner; then, by many others.

In HFA and Asperger's, one could either be mistaken for someone with ADHD, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders, depression, amongst many others--or have those as a co-morbid with the Asperger's or the HFA.

If I were a diagnostician, the most difficult task would be to determine which dominates--the autism, or the co-morbid?

Social phobia.

Interesting question.
Many Aspies seem to think that all people not on the Autism spectrum are 'normal', even those with things like Mental Retardation what require care all their life.

Other conditions can affect a person socially to some extent even if they don't have an ASD. Other conditions like depression can affect a person's social motivation, like not wanting to socialize, even at work or around people that are nice.

I do think psychology is extremely hard to explain in words, so I'm probably wasting my time here trying to explain, and somebody's bound to take it the wrong way and start up an argument in your thread, which is not what we want.

But was not getting at you. I was just making a general statement.

Avoidant personality

For myself, the things I investigated (and spoke with my therapist about) included:

- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Schizoid Personality Disorder
- Avoidant Personality Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
- Schizotypal Personality Disorder
- "Gifted" Disorder (not a DSM disorder)
- Sensory Processing Disorder (not a DSM disorder)
- Executive Functioning Disorder (not a DSM disorder)

Social Phobia, anxiety disorder, neurasthenia, avoidant personality disorder, mixed personality disorder and mixed personality disorder with narcissistic traits has been my labels over the years. They all seem to have one or more traits, that looks like possible AS traits.
I have been very confused about it - and I´m happy to see, that I´m just an aspie.

Yeah. They´ve all been confused about me. I seemed to fit their theory and not fit it at the same time.
I´ll not go into details about, what it cost me at a personal level.
I feel justified now and I swear, I´ll defy all those wise heads (non professionals) and self acclaimed gurus, who can´t stop offering me coaching and guidance, as if they possessed the sole truth and I needed them. It is all self-affirmation to them.

I´ve actually been around longer, that many of them and I have thought about life - more that they figure. I just don´t talk so loud.

Guess what I met during Christmas I just had to get it out.
Good after-christmas to all

- Social Phobia
- Schizotypal PD
- Schizoid PD
- Borderline PD
- Avoidant PD
- PTSD
- DDA (Polish acronym of "Dorosłe Dziecko Alkoholika" - "Adult Child of Alcoholic", a specific kind of PTSD)
- ADD
- ADHD
- Sensory Integration Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder

My dyspraxia symptoms tend to overlap or intertwine with my autism traits.

shell shock, post traumatic stress disorder? I heard someone say her daughter has been through something, didnt want to say what happened, but now she doesnt want to communicate or speak anymore. And that faraway look in the eyes and staring ito space, rocking, pacing, jumping at noise.

I think sometimes people just think we have emotional problems when we are younger, so many oppositional-defiant disorder or some other label they stick kids with who don't bow to authority.