The authors present the outcomes of a new disability assessment paradigm, which ran for three years and concerns patients with autism.

Introduction of a new paradigm for assessing the state of health, decrease in the working capacity, and disability in patients with mental and behavioural disorders.

The evaluation reflected functional health state assessment and working incapacity in relation to the International Classification of Diseases and the International Classification of Functional Abilities, and principles of personalised medicine. Assessment of a patient's ability to undergo work rehabilitation is also part of personalised medicine.

In 2009, there were 28 741 of acknowledged cases of disability due to mental illnesses, out of which, 1 262 were cases of autism. In 2012, there were 32 326 cases of disability due to mental illnesses, with autism patients representing 1 866 cases. There was an increase in the number of acknowledgements of the degree of disability due to autism by 47% from 1 262 cases in 2009 to 1 866 cases in 2012; the proportion of persons with disability due to mental disorders increased between 2009 and 2012 by 12.4%.

The new paradigm of disability assessment represents a personalised evaluation of patients’ ability with special emphasis on their social integration. The increase in the number of disabilities due to autism significantly outweighs the total increase of disabilities caused by a mental illness.