This evaluation of thought disorders in 11 high functioning autistic young adults and older adolescents found poverty of speech, poor reality testing, perceptual distortions, and areas of cognitive slippage. In comparison with a schizophrenic reference group, autistic subjects demonstrated more poverty of speech and less illogic as well as similar…

Nine adult males with mental retardation resulting from Fragile X syndrome were compared to males with mental retardation of other etiology. Fragile X males showed a distinct psychological profile with more autistic features, more schizoid features, and more schizotypal features. These males were also more shy, more socially withdrawn, less…

A method for empirical classification of autistic and autisticlike children, based on behavior observations of 35 males and 11 females (ages 4-28 years) was examined. Factor and cluster analysis indicated four subtypes, characterized by perseverative thinking and play, motor disturbances, schizotypal/schizoid features, and anxiety and negativism.…