自闭症谱系障碍
Autism spectrum disorders
2011-09-01
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are seriousneurodevelopmental disorders affecting approximatelyone in 160 Australians.1 In 1943, Kanner used theword ‘autism’ to describe children who were unable torelate to others, had delayed and disordered language,repetitive behaviours and a drive for sameness.2These three core symptoms have remained centralto the diagnosis of a group of disorders referred to as‘pervasive developmental disorders’ (PDDs) describedin both the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of MentalDisorders, 4th edition, text revised (DSM-IV-TR)3 and theInternational Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).4 In 1997,Wing introduced the term ‘autism spectrum disorders’describing a continuum of conditions from aloof childrenthrough to ‘active but odd’ children who share an autistic‘triad of impairments’.5 The term has since been used todescribe symptoms of severity, changes that occur withdevelopment and the associated range of intellectualability.6 In line with emerging international practice, inthis article the term ‘autism spectrum disorders’ willrefer to autistic disorder, Asperger disorder and pervasivedevelopmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS)(atypical autism).