Autism Spectrum Disorders are a subset of a group of disorders described in the DSM-IV as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). These disorder involve "severe and pervasive impairments" in the areas of communication, social skills and behaviour. Autism Spectrum Disorders are:
Autistic Disorder
Asperger's Disorder
Pervasive Developmental Disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)
American Psychiatric Association (1994), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition. Note: a text revision of the manual, known as the DSM-IV-TR, was published in 2000.
The DSM-IV describes a group of conditions called Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) as "severe and pervasive impairments" in the areas of communication, social skills and behaviour. The specific diagnoses listed as Pervasive Developmental Disorders in the DSM-IV are:
Autistic Disorder
Rett's Disorder
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
Asperger's Disorder
Pervasive Developmental Disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)
