Autism classification

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

DSM 5 categorized autism under autistic spectrum disorders/pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). Autistic spectrum of disorders are characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions, communication associated with severely restricted interests and repetitive behavior and can be classified into 5 types.

Classification

Classification according to DSM V criteria

DSM 5 categorized autism under autistic spectrum disorders/pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). Autistic spectrum of disorders are characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions, communication associated with severely restricted interests and repetitive behavior.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Autistic spectrum disorder

Autistic disorder

Retts disorder

Childhood disintegrative disorder

Pervasive developmental disorder

Asperger’s disorder

Classification according to severity level

Based on the degree of severity and level of support ASD are classified into 3 types^[2]^[4]^[5]

Severity level		Social communication	Restricted, repetitive behaviors
Level 3	Requiring very substantial support	Severe deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication skills Severe impairment in functioning Very limited initiation of social interactions Minimal response to social overtures from others	Inflexibility of behavior Extreme difficulty in coping with change Repeated behavior markedly interferes with functioning in all spheres Great distress/difficulty changing focus or action
Level 2	Requiring substantial support	Marked deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication skills Marked impairment in functioning Limited initiation of social interactions	Difficulty in coping with change Distress/difficulty changing focus or action Repetitive behaviors occur frequently
Level 1	Requiring support	Without support, deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication skills Atypical and unusual social responses	Interference with functioning in one or more context Problems of organization and planning hamper independence

References

↑ Geschwind DH, Levitt P (2007). “Autism spectrum disorders: developmental disconnection syndromes”. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 17 (1): 103–11. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2007.01.009. PMID 17275283.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Piven J, Palmer P, Jacobi D, Childress D, Arndt S (1997). “Broader autism phenotype: evidence from a family history study of multiple-incidence autism families” (PDF). Am J Psychiatry. 154 (2): 185–90. PMID 9016266.
↑ Cohen D, Pichard N, Tordjman S; et al. (2005). “Specific genetic disorders and autism: clinical contribution towards their identification”. J Autism Dev Disord. 35 (1): 103–16. doi:10.1007/s10803-004-1038-2. PMID 15796126.
↑ Freitag CM (2007). “The genetics of autistic disorders and its clinical relevance: a review of the literature”. Mol Psychiatry. 12 (1): 2–22. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001896. PMID 17033636.
↑ Stephan DA (2008). “Unraveling autism”. Am J Hum Genet. 82 (1): 7–9. doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2007.12.003. PMID 18179879.

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[1] Geschwind DH, Levitt P (2007). “Autism spectrum disorders: developmental disconnection syndromes”. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 17 (1): 103–11. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2007.01.009. PMID 17275283.

[:0-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Piven J, Palmer P, Jacobi D, Childress D, Arndt S (1997). “Broader autism phenotype: evidence from a family history study of multiple-incidence autism families” (PDF). Am J Psychiatry. 154 (2): 185–90. PMID 9016266.

[Cohen-3] Cohen D, Pichard N, Tordjman S; et al. (2005). “Specific genetic disorders and autism: clinical contribution towards their identification”. J Autism Dev Disord. 35 (1): 103–16. doi:10.1007/s10803-004-1038-2. PMID 15796126.

[Freitag-4] Freitag CM (2007). “The genetics of autistic disorders and its clinical relevance: a review of the literature”. Mol Psychiatry. 12 (1): 2–22. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001896. PMID 17033636.

[5] Stephan DA (2008). “Unraveling autism”. Am J Hum Genet. 82 (1): 7–9. doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2007.12.003. PMID 18179879.

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