[The Outpatient Clinic and Rehabilitation Program Specialized in Adult Developmental Disorders]

The rehabilitation program has been conducted at our psychiatric clinic for depressive patients who are absent from work, with the aim of assisting them to return to work. We have noticed that a substantial number of the patients have traits of developmental disorders, which contribute to chronicity and/or recurrence of depression. Therefore, we have recently created a new rehabilitation program in addition to the specialty outpatient clinic and peer support group. All these programs specialize in treating adult patients with mild developmental disorders [mostly autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)]. Since then, we have investigated a lot of depressive patients whose ASD symptoms have been identified for the first time in their life. Symptoms were first noted after they started work where they experienced impaired social functioning because the social demands were higher than those at schools. To assist patients with their goals of improving symptoms and stabilizing social functions, it is valid to evaluate whether the autistic traits cause mental stress and impairment during occupational functioning, even if the diagnosis of ASD is not definitive or the symptoms are below the diagnostic threshold for ASD. The profile of ASD symptoms is different for each patient, and therefore personalized support is essential.