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Differentiating High-Functioning Autism and Social Phobia

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Abstract

Both high-functioning autism (HFA) and social phobia (SP) involve profound social interaction deficits. Although these disorders share some similar symptoms, they are conceptualized as distinct. Because both HFA and SP are defined behaviorally, the degree of overlap between the two disorders may result in misinterpretation of symptoms. However, the deficits in each disorder differ, particularly in areas of social interaction, emotion recognition and expression, and communication. This paper reviews the literature that informs our current understanding of the behavioral overlaps and differences in HFA and SP. The review also addresses the implications of our current knowledge of these two disorders for differential diagnosis, treatment, and future research. Interdisciplinary, developmentally-oriented research may help extend current approaches to HFA and SP.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Marianne Barton and Kim Treadwell for assistance with revisions to the manuscript. We thank Marianne Barton, Deborah Fein, Inge-Marie Eigsti, Lauren Herlihy, Kelley Knoch, and Eva Troyb for their ideas and suggestions for an early version of the paper.

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Katherine E. Tyson & Dean G. Cruess

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  1. Katherine E. Tyson
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  2. Dean G. Cruess
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Correspondence to Katherine E. Tyson.

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Tyson, K.E., Cruess, D.G. Differentiating High-Functioning Autism and Social Phobia. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 1477–1490 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1386-7

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