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Case Report

Investigating the Overlap of Hikikomori and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report

by
Marianna Moro
1,†,
Alessia de Gioia
1,†,
Giulia D’Amario
1,
Valentina Napoli
1,
Ilaria Venezia
1,
Federica Mirra
1,
Martina D’Ambrosio
1,
Romina Venditti
1,
Simona Sestito
1,
Andrea De Stefano
1,
Sara Di Domenico
2,
Domenico Romeo
1,3,
Eugenio Mercuri
1,3 and
Claudia Brogna
1,3,*
1
Pediatric Neurology Unit, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
2
Psychologist and Psychoterapist, Piazza Attilio Omodei Zorini 11, 00166 Rome, Italy
3
Pediatric Neurology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Medicina 2025, 61(4), 637; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61040637
Submission received: 26 January 2025 / Revised: 12 March 2025 / Accepted: 27 March 2025 / Published: 31 March 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Psychiatry)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Hikikomori is a form of social withdrawal lasting more than 6 months with significant associated functional impairment. To date, numerous studies confirm the presence of this condition not only in Japan, where it was first described, but also globally abroad. This is an underestimated clinical condition, and it is emerging especially in adolescents and young adults, representing an increasing management problem for families and society. Prevalence ranges from 1.1% to 6.7%. Hikikomori can be associated with other neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Indeed, ASD and hikikomori share numerous characteristics confirmed by functional neuroimaging studies that have highlighted in both conditions the presence of alterations in cerebral regions related to social functioning. We present a case report regarding the history of a 14-year-old girl with characteristics compatible with ASD and hikikomori. At present, there are no specific treatments approved for hikikomori in ASD patients. Further studies are necessary to understand the link between the two conditions, the boundary, and possible overlap.
Keywords: hikikomori; Autism Spectrum Disorders; case study; social isolation hikikomori; Autism Spectrum Disorders; case study; social isolation

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MDPI and ACS Style

Moro, M.; de Gioia, A.; D’Amario, G.; Napoli, V.; Venezia, I.; Mirra, F.; D’Ambrosio, M.; Venditti, R.; Sestito, S.; De Stefano, A.; et al. Investigating the Overlap of Hikikomori and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report. Medicina 2025, 61, 637. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61040637

AMA Style

Moro M, de Gioia A, D’Amario G, Napoli V, Venezia I, Mirra F, D’Ambrosio M, Venditti R, Sestito S, De Stefano A, et al. Investigating the Overlap of Hikikomori and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report. Medicina. 2025; 61(4):637. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61040637

Chicago/Turabian Style

Moro, Marianna, Alessia de Gioia, Giulia D’Amario, Valentina Napoli, Ilaria Venezia, Federica Mirra, Martina D’Ambrosio, Romina Venditti, Simona Sestito, Andrea De Stefano, and et al. 2025. "Investigating the Overlap of Hikikomori and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report" Medicina 61, no. 4: 637. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61040637

APA Style

Moro, M., de Gioia, A., D’Amario, G., Napoli, V., Venezia, I., Mirra, F., D’Ambrosio, M., Venditti, R., Sestito, S., De Stefano, A., Di Domenico, S., Romeo, D., Mercuri, E., & Brogna, C. (2025). Investigating the Overlap of Hikikomori and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report. Medicina, 61(4), 637. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61040637

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