Psychotic Episode and autism?

My boyfriend has aspergers, which has suddenly become worse in the last 2 years (he is 31), probably due to an extremely high level of stress he has faced in this time which is making it harder for him to cope and keep masking so well.

He has been experiencing regular 'shutdowns' which usually last between 3 and 6 days. He has also had extended periods where he seems depressed or anxious, which we have put down to his aspergers. 

The last 2 months he has been really struggling with stress and multiple shutdowns, having just been gone for two whole weeks. He has been in a manic phase for about 5 days following his return and then yesterday became completely psychotic. E.g believed he had won the lottery and was throwing chairs, thinking he was the President of America, running in front of cars, thinking his mum was a doctor who found a coronavirus cure. He was finally sectioned early hours this morning

My question is, has any one else experienced a complete psychotic break down like this simply down to their autism. And it being a build up of all the recent stress which has just reached a point he cant handle. Or does this sound like he could also have bipolar and this is his first proper manic phase? 

I know autism is often linked with other illnesses. He also has anxiety disorder. But now reading the NHS description of bipolar it sounds just like him. It's like a cycle of a depressive state which slowly worsens until he has a shutdown. And after a shutdown he is then always at his best for a few days, but to the point of being almost manic. E.g doesnt stop talking, very excited by everything, very sociable and positive, impulsive buying, sudden future plans and big decisions. 

And for any one who may have experienced similar, will he ever be ok again? I appreciate recovery will be long but I'm so scared he wont come back from this. He has been like it 48 hours, didnt even recognise who his own family were. The worst part is I've been told he just kept asking for me and shouted that I'm "his answer to everything", but his family wouldnt let me near him 

Parents
  • Hi.  Sorry you are going through this - it sounds really tough.   My colleague, also with an ASD diagnosis like me, had a psychotic episode and was sectioned after a prolonged period of stress in his life.  He recovered with quick intervention and has not had an episode (2 yrs ago) since.  He is medicated and under the care of the MH team to avoid relapse.  I think it’s fair to say that people on the spectrum disproportionately experience stress from navigating a nuerotypical word and therefore are more likely to experience mental health issues. There is increasing evidence of psychosis being more common in the autistic population https://www.spectrumnews.org/opinion/viewpoint/signs-psychosis-people-autism-warrant-serious-concern/

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  • Hi.  Sorry you are going through this - it sounds really tough.   My colleague, also with an ASD diagnosis like me, had a psychotic episode and was sectioned after a prolonged period of stress in his life.  He recovered with quick intervention and has not had an episode (2 yrs ago) since.  He is medicated and under the care of the MH team to avoid relapse.  I think it’s fair to say that people on the spectrum disproportionately experience stress from navigating a nuerotypical word and therefore are more likely to experience mental health issues. There is increasing evidence of psychosis being more common in the autistic population https://www.spectrumnews.org/opinion/viewpoint/signs-psychosis-people-autism-warrant-serious-concern/

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