Diagnosis and classification in autism

Abstract

This study compared four systems for the diagnosis of autism (DSM-III, DSM-III-R, DSM-IV, and ICD-10) with two empirically derived taxa of autism, and with three social subgroups of autism (Aloof, Passive, and Active-but-Odd) in 194 preschool children with salient social impairment. There were significant behavior and IQ differences between autistic and other-PDD groups for all four diagnostic systems, and a significant association was found (a) for Taxon B, diagnoses of autism, and the Aloof subgroup, and (b) for Taxon A, other-PDD, and the Active-but-Odd subgroup. Findings offer support for two major overlapping continua within idiopathic Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

Are There Subgroups within the Autistic Spectrum? A Cluster Analysis of a Group of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

“…This question is also of importance to our interpretations. Bearing in mind that we had an older sample, and three groups rather than two (compared with Waterhouse et al, 1996, our '' less autistic-like '' cluster subdivided into AS-like and '' mild '', or PDD-NOS), our data seem to support an interpretation based on what Waterhouse et al (1996) called '' severity of developmental compromise ''. We would also argue that this is not inconsistent with the spectrum conceptualisation of autism.…”

Executive Functioning in Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder: Can We Differentiate Within the Spectrum?

“…Prior et al (1998) suggested that a promising method is to use statistical approaches to look at factors or clusters of symptoms that characterize empirically derived subgroups. These authors proposed the use of a spectrum of autistic disorders on which children differ primarily in terms of degrees of social and cognitive impairments (see also Waterhouse et al, 1996). However, Kugler (1998) argued that the classification of groups derived from the data itself, rather than relying on group assignment by diagnostic criteria, needs to be considered carefully.…”

The Classification of Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder

“…It is not at all clear that we have reliable diagnostic criteria for POONOS. Indeed, 2 studies have criticized the current criteria (17,18). POONOS is differentiated from autism largely on the basis of symptom count; children with POONOS have fewer symptoms than do those with autism.…”