Autism assessment tools in the transition from DSM-IV to DSM-5

Excerpt

Autism is a heterogeneous disorder with considerable clinical diversity, aetiological heterogeneity, and multiple accompanying disorders. Conceptualization of the core autistic symptoms has evolved from the single criteria of DSM III [1] to a combination of multiple criteria in the traditional dimensions of disturbances in social relation and communication, restricted interests and repetitive behaviours of more recent classification systems. With time, empiric research leads to changes in the combination of dimensions and specific criteria: from 3 dimension with a combination of 12 criteria for autistic disorder of the DSM-IV [2], the new DSM-5 [3] defines the two dimensions (social relation/communication and restricted interests/repetitive behaviours), with 7 criteria for the “Autism spectrum disorder” (ASD). From five previously independent disorders grouped as pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) in DSM-IV, DSM-5, still provisional at the time this editorial was written, defines a single Autism spectrum disorder, and creates the new diagnostic category of Social Communication Deficit describing patients with social communication impairment without significant restricted interest or repetitive behaviours. …