The diagnostic criteria for Asperger Syndrome (AS) according to ICD-10 and DSM-IV have been criticized as being too narrow in view of the rules of onset and precedence, whereby autism takes precedence over AS in a diagnostic hierarchy. In order to investigate this further, cases from the DSM-IV multicenter study who had been diagnosed clinically with AS were assigned to appropriate DSM-IV/ICD-10 diagnostic categories. The analysis indicated that 11(23%) cases would be reassigned a diagnosis of autism by either ICD-10 or DSM-IV according to their onset and precedence rules, and 33(68%) would be diagnosed with AS. These results contrast with those of others who have stated that the diagnosis of AS using ICD-10/DSM-IV criteria is ‘virtually impossible’. It is suggested that this is due to limitations inherent in these criteria, and alternative conceptualizations are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
InstitutionalAuthorNameAmerican Psychiatric Association. (1987) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, (3rd Ed.) APA Washington, DC
InstitutionalAuthorNameAmerican Psychiatric Association. (1994) DSM-IV diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, (4th Ed.) APA Washington, DC
Asperger H. (1944). Die “Autistischen Psychopathen” im Kindesalter. Archiv fur Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten, 117, 76–136. (Reprinted in Autism and Asperger syndrome, by U. Frith, Ed., 1991, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press).
D. Bishop (1989) ArticleTitleAutism, Asperger’s syndrome, and semantic-pragmatic disorder: where are the boundaries? British Journal of Disorders of Communication 24 107–122
R. Eisenmajer M. Prior S. Leekam L. Wing J. Gould M. Welham (1996) ArticleTitleComparison of clinical symptoms in autism and Asperger’s disorder Journal of American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry 35 1523–1531
I. C. Gillberg C. Gillberg (1989) ArticleTitleAsperger syndrome: Some epidemiological considerations: A research note Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry & Allied Disciplines 30 IssueID4, 631–638 30–4, 631638
K. Hippler C. Klicpera (2003) ArticleTitleA retrospective analysis of the clinical case records of ’autistic psychopaths’ diagnosed by Hans Asperger and his team at the University Children’s Hospital, Vienna Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 358 291–301
L. Kanner (1943) ArticleTitleAutistic disturbance of affective contact Nervous Child 2 217–250
Klin, A., & Volkmar, F. R. (1997). The pervasive developmental disorders: Nosology and profiles of development. In S. S. Luthar, & J. A. Burack (Eds.), Developmental psychopathology: Perspectives on adjustment, risk, and disorder. (pp. 208–226).
A. Klin F. R. Volkmar S. Sparrow (2000) Asperger syndrome The Guilford Press New York
R. Landa (2000) Social language use in Asperger syndrome and high functioning Autism A. Klin F. R. Volkmar S. S. Sparrow (Eds) Asperger syndrome. The Guilford Press New York
S. Leekam S. Libby L. Wing J. Gould C. Gillberg (2000) ArticleTitleComparison of ICD-10 and Gillberg’s criteria for Asperger Syndrome Autism 4 11–28
S. Mayes S. Calhoun D. Crites (2001) ArticleTitleDoes DSM-IV Asperger’s disorder exist? Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 3 263–271
J. N. Miller S. Ozonoff (1997) ArticleTitleDid Asperger’s cases have Asperger disorder? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 38 247–251
S. Ozonoff (2000) Neuropsychological Function and the External Validity of Asperger Syndrome A. Klin F. R. Volkmar S. S. Sparrow (Eds) Asperger Syndrome. The Guilford Press New York 73–96
B. Rourke (1987) ArticleTitleSyndrome of non-verbal learning disabilities: The final common pathway of white matter disease/dysfunction The Clinical Neuropsychologist 1 209–234
B. Rourke (1989) Nonverbal learning disabilities: The syndrome and the model The Guilford Press New York
E. Schopler (1985) ArticleTitleConvergence of learning disability, higher-level autism, and Asperger’s Syndrome Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 15 359–360
P. Szatmari R. Bremner J. Nagy (1989) ArticleTitleAsperger’s Syndrome: A review of clinical features Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 34 554–560
D. Tantam (1988) ArticleTitleAsperger’s syndrome Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 29 245–255
F. R. Volkmar A. Klin (2000) Diagnostic Issues in Asperger Syndrome A. Klin F. R. Volkmar S. Sparrow (Eds) Asperger syndrome. The Guilford Press New York
F. R. Volkmar A. Klin B. Siegel P. Szatmari et al. (1994) ArticleTitleField trial for autistic disorder in DSM-IV American Journal of Psychiatry 151 IssueID9 1361–1367
InstitutionalAuthorNameWorld Health Organization. (1992) ICD-10 International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems WHO Geneva
L. Wing (1981) ArticleTitleAsperger syndrome: a clinical account Psychological Medicine 11 115–130
Wing L. (1997). The Autistic Spectrum.
S. Wolff (1991) ArticleTitle’Schizoid’ personality in childhood and adult life. I: The vagaries of diagnostic labeling British Journal of Psychiatry 159 615–620
S. Wolff (2000) Schizoid Personality in Childhood and Asperger Syndrome A. Klin F. R. Volkmar S. Sparrow (Eds) Asperger syndrome. The Guilford Press New York 278–305
S. Wolff A. Barlow (1979) ArticleTitleSchizoid personality in childhood: A comparative study of schizoid, autistic and normal children Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry & Allied Disciplines 20 IssueID1 29–46
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Woodbury-Smith, M., Klin, A. & Volkmar, F. Asperger’s Syndrome: A Comparison of Clinical Diagnoses and Those Made According to the ICD-10 and DSM-IV. J Autism Dev Disord 35, 235–240 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-004-2002-x
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-004-2002-x