A Psychiatry Advisor article discusses the history of Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) and notes the diagnostic changes reflected in the DSM-5. Key points include:
- Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger identified the symptoms of AS in 1944.
- Researcher Lorna Wing coined the term Asperger Syndrome in 1981.
- In 1991, psychologist Uta Frith incorporated Asperger’s research into her book Autism and Asperger Syndrome.
- AS was included as a diagnosis for the first time in 1994’s DSM-IV.
According to Psychiatry Advisor, the DSM-IV describes Asperger’s as being characterized by “qualitative impairment in social interaction, restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities without significant delay in language, cognitive development, self-help skills, adaptive behavior or curiosity about environment in childhood.”
With the 2013 release of the DSM-5, Asperger’s Syndrome now falls under the umbrella term of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Learn more in
Asperger Syndrome: History, Diagnosis and DSM-5 Changes and
Understanding the Changes in DSM-5.
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