Launching A Specialized Clinic for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder in Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study aims to introduce a specialized clinic for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) launched in Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran, Iran, in 2019. The target group is male and female adults (age>18) with ASD. The main goal of this clinic is the diagnosis, comprehensive evaluation, and evidence-based treatments, including medication therapy and psychotherapy. In addition, the academic department of this clinic pursues research and educational programs. Due to the prevalence of ASD in adults, we expected many clients to visit the clinic, but the number of cases recorded in this clinic so far has been much lower than expected. The reasons were discussed in this study. The launch of this clinic can be the starting point for creating a coherent ASD screening and diagnosis system and providing lifetime services to adults with ASD in Iran. We provide recommendations in this regard at the end of this paper.