Pervasive developmental disorders – autistic spectrum disorders

Abstract

Pervasive developmental disorders are disorders of early childhood characterized as qualitative impairment in reciprocal social interaction, qualitative impairments in verbal and nonverbal communication, and restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities. Those disorders were first described by L e o K a n e r (1943) and H a n s A s p e rg e r in 1944. In 1978 L o r n a Wi n g introduced the term autistic spectrum or autistic continuum as a synonym for autistic disorder. Today the term Autistic Spectrum Disorders is used as a synonym for the pervasive developmental disorders. According to DSM IV classification, pervasive disorders have five subgroups. Autistic Disorder F84.0, Rett Disorder F84.2, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder F84.3, Asperger’s Disorder F84.5, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) F84.9. ICD-10 has eight subgroups, Childhood Autism F84.0, Atypical Autism F84.1, Rett’s Syndrome F84.2, Other Pervasive Developmental Disorder F84.3, Overactive disorder with mental retardation and stereotyped movements, F84.4, Asperger’s Syndrome F84.5, Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders F84.8, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, unspecified F84.9. Prevalence data of the ASD differ and vary between 5 and 70 in 10 000. Incidence in recent years is higher, which is partially the result of the improvement in diagnostic procedures, broader diagnostic criteria, a higher level of specific professional knowledge, greater parental awareness and service improvement. The treatment is symptomatic.