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Psychotherapie des Asperger-Syndroms im Erwachsenenalter

Psychotherapy of Asperger syndrome in adults

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Zusammenfassung

In den letzten Jahren hat das wissenschaftliche Interesse am neuropsychiatrischen Störungsbild des Asperger-Syndroms (AS) stark zugenommen. Therapeutische Maßnahmen wie Einzel- und Gruppentherapie werden in Deutschland zumeist bei Kindern und Jugendlichen angeboten, für Erwachsene sind diese jedoch kaum vorhanden und umfassende Konzepte fehlen. Volkswirtschaftlich ist das AS vor allem deshalb von großer Bedeutung, weil betroffene Menschen trotz teilweise guter bis sehr guter Partialbegabungen aufgrund der defizitären sozialen Kompetenz im Berufsleben zumeist nur unzureichend integriert sind. Schwierigkeiten in der sozialen Interaktion sowie Probleme bei verändertem Tagesablauf und schlecht planbaren Situationen verursachen bei einem Großteil der Patienten starke Frustration und Stress, was häufig zu komorbiden psychischen Störungen führt. In diesem Artikel werden zunächst bereits bestehende therapeutische Ansätze beschrieben. Im Anschluss daran wird das Konzept der Freiburger Asperger-spezifischen Therapie für Erwachsene (FASTER) vorgestellt.

Summary

There is an increase in awareness in professionals that the Asperger syndrome (AS) in adulthood is associated with specific problems and burdens which may well differ from those in childhood and adolescence. The core symptoms of AS generally persist into adulthood, however in contrast to childhood and adolescence there is no specific support system for adults in Germany. Also the environment of the afflicted patient changes thus producing different challenges and problems. In addition a subgroup of patients with high functioning AS primarily presents in adulthood generally due to secondary psychosocial problems, depression or anxiety. Difficulties in social interaction, problems with modified daily routines and unforeseen situations cause severe frustration for the majority of the patients. While several therapy programs have been developed and implemented for children and adolescents, for adults there are none. Also there is a lack of comprehensive concepts addressing the specific needs of adult patients with AS. From an economic perspective this is particularly unfortunate since affected people often have good or excellent partial abilities and might be very valuable employees. In this article existing therapeutic concepts for AS are summarized and a newly designed group therapy program for adult patients with Asperger syndrome in Freiburg is introduced (Freiburg Asperger-spezifische Therapie für Erwachsene, FASTER) which specifically addresses the needs and problems of adult patients with AS.

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Abbreviations

HFA/AS:

high functioning autism (hochfunktionaler Autismus) bzw. Asperger-Syndrom

ASS:

Autismusspektrumstörung

FASTER:

Freiburger Asperger-spezifische Therapie für Erwachsene

KJP:

Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie

LFA:

low functioning autism (niedrigfunktionaler Autismus)

ToM:

theory of mind

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Hauptstraße 5, 79104, Freiburg, Deutschland

    T. Fangmeier, A. Lichtblau, J. Peters, D. Ebert & L.T. van Elst

  2. Abteilung für Kognitionswissenschaft, Institut für Informatik und Gesellschaft, Freiburg, Deutschland

    T. Fangmeier

  3. Abteilung für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie im Kindes- und Jugendalter, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland

    M. Biscaldi-Schäfer

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  1. T. Fangmeier
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  2. A. Lichtblau
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  4. M. Biscaldi-Schäfer
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  5. D. Ebert
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  6. L.T. van Elst
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Correspondence to T. Fangmeier.

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Fangmeier, T., Lichtblau, A., Peters, J. et al. Psychotherapie des Asperger-Syndroms im Erwachsenenalter. Nervenarzt 82, 628–635 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00115-010-3121-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00115-010-3121-6

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