The Evolution of Autism Diagnostic Criteria The formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex, multi-faceted process rooted in decades of evolving psychiatric and developmental science. The earliest conceptualizations date back to 1943, when Austrian-American psychiatrist Leo Kanner described 11 children exhibiting what he termed “early infantile autism,” characterized primarily by an inability […]
Defining Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, alongside restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The current conceptualization, standardized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), emphasizes a spectrum approach, […]