Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Diagnosis, Development, Neurobiology, and Behavior

Chapter One

FRED R. VOLKMAR AND AMI KLIN

Clinicians and researchers have achieved consensus on the validity of autism as a diagnostic category and the many features central to its definition (Rutter, 1996). This has made possible the convergence of the two major diagnostic systems: the fourth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV, 1994) and the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10; World Health Organization [WHO], 1992). Although some differences remain, these major diagnostic systems have become much more alike than different; this has facilitated the development of diagnostic assessments "keyed" to broadly accepted, internationally recognized guidelines (Rutter, Le Couteur, & Lord, 2003; see Chapter 28, this Handbook, Volume 2). It is somewhat surprising that, as greater consensus has been achieved on the definition of strictly defined autism, an interesting and helpful discussion on issues of "broader phenot ... read full excerpt from Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Volume 1 ebook