RT Book, Section A1 Volkmar, Fred R. A2 Ebert, Michael H. A2 Loosen, Peter T. A2 Nurcombe, Barry A2 Leckman, James F. SR Print(0) ID 3290229 T1 Chapter 34. Autism and the Pervasive Developmental Disorders T2 CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Psychiatry, 2e YR 2008 FD 2008 PB The McGraw-Hill Companies PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-142292-5 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=3290229 RD 2024/03/28 AB Autism and the related pervasive developmental disorders are disorders of early onset in which abnormalities in the development of social interaction and communication are associated with problems in behavior and unusual sensitivity to the inanimate environment. Autism is the best known of these conditions. DSM-IV-TR criteria for it are listed in Table 34–1. In autism a marked and sustained impairment in social interaction is associated with delayed and deviant communication and restricted, stereotyped patterns of interest and behavior. The condition was first described by Leo Kanner in 1943. Kanner emphasized two key features: autism (social disinterest) and restricted interests and trouble with change. His report underscored the importance of the lack of social interest for other aspects of development and social factors are consistently identified as central to the diagnosis of the condition. In the first decades after its description, autism was often incorrectly assumed to be a form of schizophrenia. Only in 1980 was it officially recognized as a diagnostic category (Volkmar & Klin, 2005).