It has been suggested that these disorders be reclassified using terms such as social communication spectrum disorder or multisystem developmental disorder. In this article the terms pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are used interchangeably to refer to the spectrum. Thus, the term autism spectrum disorders has gained support since it reflects the range in both type and severity of symptoms seen in children with autism. At present, there is no clear distinction between autistic disorder and pervasive developmental disorder NOS, nor is there clear diagnostic criteria for them.
Asperger disorder will also not be discussed further since it is a mild form of high-functioning autism that manifests later, so would not be considered in very young children. Both affect so few children that they will not be considered here. The pervasive developmental disorders also include Rett’s disorder, a neurological condition, and childhood disintegrative disorder, a poorly defined variant of autism. The latter is a term for atypical autism, that is, either milder symptoms or characteristics in only one or two of the three areas necessary for a diagnosis.
#Pervasive disorders manual
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV-TR (DSM-IV-TR), pervasive developmental disorder is the umbrella term covering autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder NOS (not otherwise specified). The definition of autism has evolved over the years and was broadened with the introduction in the 1980s of the terms pervasive developmental disorder and Asperger syndrome. Please see our separate article on ADHD here.Autism is a behavioral syndrome characterized by a triad of impaired social interaction, communication, and imaginative development, with repetitive stereotyped behaviors.
Despite the name change, the deficits in cognitive capacity beginning in the developmental period, with the accompanying diagnostic criteria, are considered to constitute a mental disorder.
Moreover, a federal statue in the United States (Public Law 111-256, Rosas Law) replaces the term mental retardation with intellectual disability. Why was the terminology of mental retardation changed? “Intellectual disability is the term that has come into common use over the past two decades among medical, educational, and other professionals, and by the lay public and advocacy groups. Severity is determined by adaptive functioning rather than IQ score.” Hello “intellectual disability.”Īccording to the APA, “diagnostic criteria for intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) emphasize the need for an assessment of both cognitive capacity (IQ) and adaptive functioning. Intellectual Disability (Intellectual Developmental Disorder)īye bye “mental retardation,” a now politically-incorrect term out of vogue for over a decade.