As far as their course of development is concerned, some mental disorders can be cured, some are permanent disabilities, some recur intermittently and some gradually worsen. Autism rarely worsens. It usually improves gradually with age.
就疾病發展過程而言，精神病有些可以痊癒，有些屬陣發型，有些則有起伏，會惡化；自閉症則較少惡化現象，多半隨年齡成長而逐漸改善。