DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria

Autistic Disorder

A    A total of six (or more) items from (1), (2), and (3), with at least two from (1), and
       one each from (2) and (3):
       (1) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the
             following:
             (a) marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye
                  -to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, andgestures to regulate social
                  interaction
             (b) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to develop mental level
             (c) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests,or achievements
                  with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing,bringing, or pointing out objects
                  of interest)
             (d) lack of social or emotional reciprocity

       (2)  qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by at least one of the
              following:
             (a) delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language (not
                  accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes
                  of communication such as gesture or mime)
             (b) in individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate
                  or sustain a conversation with others
             (c) stereotyped arid repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language
             (d) lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play
                  appropriate to developmental level

       (3)  restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities,
             as manifested by at least one of the following:
             (a)   encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted
                   patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
             (b)   apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
             (c)   stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or
                   twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
             (d)   persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

B.    Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior
        to age 3 years:
       (1) social interaction
       (2) language as used in social communication
       (3) symbolic or imaginative play.

C.   The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder or Childhood
       Disintegrative Disorder.

Rett’s Disorder

A.    All of the following:
       (1)  apparently normal prenatal and perinatal development
       (2)  apparently normal psychomotor development through the First 5 months after birth
       (3)  normal head circumference at birth

B.    Onset of all of the following after the period of normal development:
       (1)  deceleration of head growth between ages 5 and  48 months
       (2)  loss of previously acquired purposeful hand skills between ages 5 and 30 months
             with the subsequent development of stereotyped hand movements
             (e.g., hand-wringing or hand washing)
       (3)  loss of social engagement early in the course (although often social interaction
             develops later)
       (4)  appearance of poorly coordinated gait or trunk movements
       (5)  severely impaired expressive and receptive language development with severe
             psychomotor retardation

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

A.   Apparently normal development for at least the first 2 years after birth as manifested by
       the presence of age-appropriate verbal and non verbal communication, social
       relationships, play, and adaptive behavior.

B.    Clinically significant loss of previously acquired skills (before age 10 years) in at least
        two of the following areas:
       (1)  expressive or receptive language
       (2)  social skills or adaptive behavior
       (3)  bowel or bladder control
       (4)  play
       (5)  motor skills

C.   Abnormalities of functioning in ac least two of the following areas:
       (1) qualitative impairment in social interaction (e.g., impairment in nonverbal behaviors,
             failure to develop peer relationships, lack of social or emotional reciprocity)
       (2)  qualitative impairments in communication (e.g., delay or' lack of spoken
              language, inability to initiate or sustain a conversation, stereotyped and repetitive
              use of language, lack of varied makebelieve play)
       (3)  restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities,
             including motor stereotypies and mannerisms

D.   The disturbance is not better accounted for by another specific
       Pervasive Developmental Disorder or by Schizophrenia.

Asperger’s Disorder

A.   Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the
       following:
       (1)  marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as
             eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to
             regulate social interaction
       (2)  failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
       (3)  a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements
             with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects
             of interest to other people)
       (4)  lack of social or emotional reciprocity

B.   Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities,
      as manifested by at least one of the following:
       (1)  encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted
              patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
       (2)  apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
       (3)  stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping
             or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
       (4)  persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

C.   The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or
       other important areas of functioning.

D.   There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used
       by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years).

E.    There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development
       of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction)
       and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

F.    Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder
       or Schizophrenia.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified

This category should be used when there is a sever and pervasive impairment in the development of reciprocal social interaction or verbal and nonverbal communication skills, or when stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities are present, but the criteria are not met for a specific PDD, Schizophrenia, Schizotypal Personality Disorder, or Avoidant Personality Disorder.  For example, this category includes "atypical autism" - presentations that do not meet the criteria fro Autistic Disorder because of late age at onset, atypical symptomatology, or subthreshold symptomatology, or all of these.

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