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Brief Report: Comparability of DSM-IV and DSM-5 ASD Research Samples

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Abstract

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) criteria for ASD have been criticized for being too restrictive, especially for more cognitively-able individuals. It is unclear, however, if high-functioning individuals deemed eligible for research via standardized diagnostic assessments would meet DSM-5 criteria. This study investigated the impact of DSM-5 on the diagnostic status of 498 high-functioning participants with ASD research diagnoses. The percent of participants satisfying all DSM-5-requirements varied significantly with reliance on data from the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS; 33 %) versus Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R; 83 %), highlighting the impact of diagnostic methodology on ability to document DSM-5 symptoms. Utilizing combined ADOS/ADI-R data, 93 % of participants met DSM-5 criteria, which suggests likely continuity between DSM-IV and DSM-5 research samples characterized with these instruments in combination.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by National Institute of Health (NIH) grants HD060601, MH086785, HD055748, HD35469, NS33355 and SAP 4100047816 from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. All authors declare themselves free from financial involvement or affiliation with any organization whose financial interests may be affected by material in the paper. The authors would like to thank Donald P. Oswald, PhD, for reviewing our ADOS/ADI-R DSM-5 algorithm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Webster Hall, Suite 300, 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    C. A. Mazefsky & H. Z. Gastgeb

  2. Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    J. C. McPartland

  3. Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    N. J. Minshew

Authors
  1. C. A. Mazefsky
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  2. J. C. McPartland
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  3. H. Z. Gastgeb
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  4. N. J. Minshew
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Correspondence to C. A. Mazefsky.

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Mazefsky, C.A., McPartland, J.C., Gastgeb, H.Z. et al. Brief Report: Comparability of DSM-IV and DSM-5 ASD Research Samples. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 1236–1242 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1665-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1665-y

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