Frotteurism and Kleptomania in High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report

Authors

  • Ana Raquel Figueiredo Serviço de Pedopsiquiatria, Hospital Pediátrico - Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0848-966X
  • Sofia Morais Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Serviço de Psiquiatria, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0951-6073
  • Graça Areias Serviço de Psicologia, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3773-8602
  • Nuno Madeira Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Serviço de Psiquiatria, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5009-8841

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51338/rppsm.505

Keywords:

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders

Abstract

Innate vulnerabilities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) could increase the risk of comorbid psychiatric conditions and judicial problems. Persistent deficits in social communication, narrow, repetitive interests, or sensory impairments could lead to deviant behaviors. This case study refers to a 22-year-old male who exhibited behavioral particularities in agreement with the presence of frotteurism and kleptomania. The impulsive nature of these behaviors was consistent with repetitive and stereotyped patterns. Premorbid social impairments, mainly in the communication domain, were also prominent, leading to the suspicion of ASD. This case report introduces two rare comorbid conditions in ASD, with forensic implications that can severely impact patients’ lives. The importance of this association especially applies to high-functioning ASD, given the propensity to an unknown diagnosis. A high-level awareness of ASD, especially in forensic psychiatry, is of paramount pertinence regarding the opportunity for early interventions addressing sexual education and social skills training. Autism, high-level, frotteurism, kleptomania, sexual, impulse, forensic, psychiatry, social skills

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Published

2024-04-09

How to Cite

Figueiredo, A. R., Morais, S., Areias, G., & Madeira, N. (2024). Frotteurism and Kleptomania in High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report. Revista Portuguesa De Psiquiatria E Saúde Mental, 10(1), 16–20. https://doi.org/10.51338/rppsm.505

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Case Report