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Case Reports
. 2015 Apr-Jun;10(2):146-8.
doi: 10.4103/1817-1745.159195.

Autism according to diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 5(th) edition: The need for further improvements

Annio Posar  1 , Federica Resca  2 , Paola Visconti  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Autism according to diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 5(th) edition: The need for further improvements

Annio Posar et al. J Pediatr Neurosci. 2015 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

The fifth edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5) introduced significant changes in the classification of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), including the abolition of the diagnostic subcategories proposed by DSM-IV-Text Revision. DSM-5 describes three levels of increasing severity of ASD. The authors report two explanatory cases with ASD (verbal boys, aged about 7 and a half years, without intellectual disability). According to DSM-5, both cases fall into the lowest severity level of ASD. However, their neuropsychological and neurobehavioral profile varies significantly. While the first boy showed a prevalent impairment of visuoconstructional and visuoperceptual abilities, the second one presented a predominant involvement of verbal functions, with qualitative impairments in communication. A further step forward in the definition and classification of ASD, taking into account both intensity and quality of symptoms, is recommended in order to formulate a reliable prognosis, plan an individualized treatment and monitor the clinical course over time.

Keywords: Autism; autism spectrum disorders; diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 5th edition; diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-IV-Text Revision.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

References

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