The Diagnosis of Autism: From Kanner to DSM-III to DSM-5 and Beyond

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 51; no. 12; pp. 4253 - 4270
• Main Authors: Rosen, Nicole E., Lord, Catherine, Volkmar, Fred R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.12.2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - diagnosis; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Autistic Disorder - diagnosis; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child and School Psychology; Classification; Clinical Diagnosis; Clinical research; Cognitive Ability; Communication Problems; Diagnosis; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; History; Humans; Influence; Language Skills; Medical diagnosis; Medical Research; Mental Disorders; Modeling (Psychology); Neurosciences; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Practice guidelines (Medicine); Psychology; Psychotherapy; Public Health; Recognition, Psychology; Resistance to Change; S:I Autism in Review: 1980-2020: 40 years after DSM-III; Schizophrenia; Social Problems; Time; Young Children; United States; Autism; Categorical; History; Dimensional; DSM
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-04904-1

In this paper we review the impact of DSM-III and its successors on the field of autism—both in terms of clinical work and research. We summarize the events leading up to the inclusion of autism as a “new” official diagnostic category in DSM-III, the subsequent revisions of the DSM, and the impact of the official recognition of autism on research. We discuss the uses of categorical vs. dimensional approaches and the continuing tensions around broad vs. narrow views of autism. We also note some areas of current controversy and directions for the future.