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Review
. 2021 Dec;51(12):4253-4270.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-04904-1. Epub 2021 Feb 24.

The Diagnosis of Autism: From Kanner to DSM-III to DSM-5 and Beyond

Nicole E Rosen  1 , Catherine Lord  2 , Fred R Volkmar  3   4
Affiliations
Review

The Diagnosis of Autism: From Kanner to DSM-III to DSM-5 and Beyond

Nicole E Rosen et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

In this paper we review the impact of DSM-III and its successors on the field of autism-both in terms of clinical work and research. We summarize the events leading up to the inclusion of autism as a "new" official diagnostic category in DSM-III, the subsequent revisions of the DSM, and the impact of the official recognition of autism on research. We discuss the uses of categorical vs. dimensional approaches and the continuing tensions around broad vs. narrow views of autism. We also note some areas of current controversy and directions for the future.

Keywords: Autism; Categorical; DSM; Dimensional; History.

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Conflict of interest statement

CL acknowledges the receipt of royalties from the sale of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). NER and FRV have no potential conflicts to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overlap between categories and dimensions for core ASD symptoms and non-ASD symptom specifiers
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. American Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2nd edition (DSM-II) Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press; 1968.
    1. American Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd edition (DSM-III) Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press; 1980.
    1. American Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd edition revised (DSM-III-R) Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 1987.
    1. American Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 1994.

MeSH terms