Undetected autism subthreshold spectrum as risk factor for suicidal gestures in adulthood: A case report.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been recently highlighted as potentially related to a
higher risk for suicide. ASD features are often under-recognized, especially in subjects with
high level of functioning. We present the case of a 21-year-old man who attempted suicide
jumping from the third floor of his home. The patient had been treated during the last 3 years
for a Schizoaffective Disorder. Patient’s history showed the presence of signs and symptoms
belonging to the realm of ASD. We hypothesize that the long-lasting presence of ASD features
(instead of the schizoaffective symptomatology) was a clinically significant (but unrecognized)
component that ultimately raised the suicide risk.