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Subtyping Pervasive Developmental Disorder

Issues of Validity and Implications for Child Psychiatric Diagnosis

  • Chapter
Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism?

Part of the book series: Current Issues in Autism ((CIAM))

Abstract

The use of the diagnostic term pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), as well as the value and purpose of subtyping the PDD has been a controversial issue. Such subtyping has been particularly relevant to disorders that are considered to be in the higher-functioning range of PDD. This chapter presents the author’s own development of thought on this topic, and is divided into four main sections. The first is a selective review of opinion regarding the diagnosis of children with severe social withdrawal prior to the initial efforts of the American Psychiatric Association (1980,1987) to provide diagnostic criteria for this clinical spectrum. Focusing on some of the findings from a study addressing the validity of PDD subtypes, the second section considers the prevailing diagnostic system (APA, 1994). The third section discusses research findings and clinical examples that support or contradict the presently accepted subtyping. The chapter concludes with a brief review of the present state of knowledge with some consideration of the ongoing research questions and how this can enhance clinical practice for those assessing and treating young people with severe developmental/psychiatric disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, 11794-8790, USA

    John C. Pomeroy

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division TEACCH, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599-7180, USA

    Eric Schopler  & Gary B. Mesibov  & 

  2. Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, Illinois, 61702-2900, USA

    Linda J. Kunce

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Pomeroy, J.C. (1998). Subtyping Pervasive Developmental Disorder. In: Schopler, E., Mesibov, G.B., Kunce, L.J. (eds) Asperger Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism?. Current Issues in Autism. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5369-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5369-4_3

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