What can we learn about autism from autistic persons?

Background: To date, few studies have focused on the viewpoints of autistic persons themselves despite an increasing number of published autobiographies. The aim of this study is to highlight their personal experiences, and to compare them to scientific and medical knowledge and representations.

Method: Adopting an anthropological approach, we analyzed 16 autobiographical writings and 5 interviews with autistic persons.

Treatment refusal in adolescents with severe chronic illness and borderline personality disorder.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to address the complex psychopathologic factors involved in treatment refusal observed in adolescents suffering from a severe chronic illness.

Method: We report on five chronically ill adolescents (2 diabetes mellitus, 1 maple syrup urine disease, 1 bird fancier's lung, 1 HIV infection) who were consecutively admitted to an inpatient psychiatric service as a result of a life-threatening refusal to comply with outpatient management of their medical illness. Case material is analyzed and discussed in the context of a review of the literature.