Asperger syndrome

"Asperger's" redirects here. For other uses, see Asperger (disambiguation).

Asperger syndrome
Other namesAsperger's syndrome, Asperger disorder (AD), Asperger's, Sukhareva's syndrome,[1] schizoid disorder of childhood,[2] autistic psychopathy[2]
A boy with Asperger's playing with magnetic toys.
Restricted interests or repetitive behavior may be features of Asperger syndrome; this boy is playing with a magnetic construction toy.
Pronunciation
SpecialtyClinical psychology, psychiatry, pediatrics, occupational medicine
SymptomsProblems with social interaction and nonverbal communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behavior[5]
ComplicationsSocial isolation, employment problems, family stress, bullying, self-harm[6]
Usual onsetBefore two years old[5]
DurationLifelong[5]
CausesInconclusive[5]
Diagnostic methodBased on the symptoms[7]
MedicationFor associated conditions[8]
Frequency37.2 million globally (0.5%) (2015)[9]
Named afterHans Asperger

Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger's syndrome or Asperger's, is a diagnosis formerly used to describe a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.[5] Asperger syndrome has been merged with other conditions into autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is no longer a diagnosis in the WHO's ICD-11 or the APA's DSM-5-TR.[10][11][12] It was considered[13] milder than other diagnoses which were merged into ASD due to relatively unimpaired spoken language and intelligence.[14]

The syndrome was named after the Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger, who, in 1944, described children in his care who struggled to form friendships, did not understand others' gestures or feelings, engaged in one-sided conversations about their favorite interests, and were clumsy.[15] In 1994, the diagnosis of Asperger syndrome was included in the fourth edition (DSM-IV) of the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; however, with the publication of DSM-5 in 2013 the syndrome was removed, and the symptoms are now included within autism spectrum disorder along with classic autism and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).[5][16] It was similarly merged into autism spectrum disorder in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as of 2021.[17][18]

The exact cause of Asperger syndrome is not well understood.[5] While it has high heritability, the underlying genetics have not been determined conclusively.[19][20] Environmental factors are also believed to play a role.[5] Brain imaging has not identified a common underlying condition.[19] There is no single treatment, and the UK's National Health Service (NHS) guidelines suggest that "treatment" of any form of autism should not be a goal, since autism is not "a disease that can be removed or cured".[21] According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists,[22] while co-occurring conditions might require treatment, "management of autism itself is chiefly about the provision of the education, training, and social support/care required to improve the person's ability to function in the everyday world". The effectiveness of particular interventions for autism is supported by only limited data.[19] Interventions may include social skills training, cognitive behavioral therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, parent training, and medications for associated problems, such as mood or anxiety.[8] Autistic characteristics tend to become less obvious in adulthood,[22] but social and communication difficulties usually persist.[23]

In 2015, Asperger syndrome was estimated to affect 37.2 million people globally, or about 0.5% of the population.[9] The exact percentage of people affected has still not been firmly established.[19] Autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed in males more often than females,[24] and females are typically diagnosed at a later age.[25][26] The modern conception of Asperger syndrome came into existence in 1981 and went through a period of popularization.[27][28][29] It became a standardized diagnosis in the 1990s[30] and was merged into ASD in 2013.[12] Many questions and controversies about the condition remain.[23]

  1. ^ Manouilenko I, Bejerot S (August 2015). "Sukhareva – Prior to Asperger and Kanner". Nordic Journal of Psychiatry (Report). 69 (6) (published 31 March 2015): 479–82. doi:10.3109/08039488.2015.1005022. ISSN 0803-9488. PMID 25826582. S2CID 207473133.
  2. ^ a b World Health Organization (2016). "International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10): F84.5 Asperger syndrome". Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Asperger syndrome definition and meaning". Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Asperger's syndrome". Oxford Dictionaries. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Autism Spectrum Disorder". National Institute of Mental Health. September 2015. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Autism spectrum disorder – Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Autism Spectrum Disorders – Pediatrics". Merck Manuals Professional Edition. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  8. ^ a b c National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) (31 July 2007). "Asperger syndrome fact sheet". Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2007. NIH Publication No. 05-5624.
  9. ^ a b Vos T, Allen C, Arora M, Barber RM, Bhutta ZA, Brown A, et al. (GBD 2015 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators) (October 2016). "Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015". Lancet. 388 (10053): 1545–602. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31678-6. PMC 5055577. PMID 27733282.
  10. ^ "Neurodevelopmental Disorders". Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. 18 March 2022. ISBN 9780890425770. LCCN 2021051782.
  11. ^ "6A02 Autism spectrum disorder". International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11). World Health Organization. February 2022 [adopted in 2019]. 6A02. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Asperger syndrome". Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) – an NCATS Program. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  13. ^ Rosen NE, Lord C, Volkmar FR (December 2021). "The Diagnosis of Autism: From Kanner to DSM-III to DSM-5 and Beyond". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 51 (12): 4253–4270. doi:10.1007/s10803-021-04904-1. PMC 8531066. PMID 33624215.
  14. ^ "F84.5 Asperger syndrome". World Health Organization. 2015. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  15. ^ Asperger H, Frich U (1991). Autistic psychopathy in childhood. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521386081 – via Internet Archive.
  16. ^ "Autism Spectrum Disorder". National Institute of Mental Health. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  17. ^ "ICD-11". icd.who.int. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  18. ^ "World Health Organisation updates classification of autism in the ICD-11". autismeurope. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  19. ^ a b c d McPartland J, Klin A (October 2006). "Asperger's syndrome". Adolescent Medicine Clinics. 17 (3): 771–88, abstract xiii. doi:10.1016/j.admecli.2006.06.010 (inactive 1 November 2024). PMID 17030291.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
  20. ^ Klauck SM (June 2006). "Genetics of autism spectrum disorder". European Journal of Human Genetics. 14 (6): 714–20. doi:10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201610. PMID 16721407. S2CID 17382203.
  21. ^ "Making information and the words we use accessible". NHS England. 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  22. ^ a b "The psychiatric management of autism in adults (CR228)". Royal College of Psychiatrists. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  23. ^ a b Woodbury-Smith MR, Volkmar FR (January 2009). "Asperger syndrome". European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (Submitted manuscript). 18 (1): 2–11. doi:10.1007/s00787-008-0701-0. PMID 18563474. S2CID 12808995.
  24. ^ Lockwood Estrin G, Milner V, Spain D, Happé F, Colvert E (December 2021). "Barriers to Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis for Young Women and Girls: A Systematic Review". Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 8 (4): 454–470. doi:10.1007/s40489-020-00225-8. PMC 8604819. PMID 34868805.
  25. ^ Ferri FF (2014). Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2015 (E-Book). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 162. ISBN 9780323084307.
  26. ^ Lai MC, Baron-Cohen S (November 2015). "Identifying the lost generation of adults with autism spectrum conditions". The Lancet. Psychiatry. 2 (11): 1013–27. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00277-1. PMID 26544750.
  27. ^ Klin A, Pauls D, Schultz R, Volkmar F (April 2005). "Three diagnostic approaches to Asperger syndrome: implications for research". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 35 (2): 221–34. doi:10.1007/s10803-004-2001-y. PMID 15909408. S2CID 19076633.
  28. ^ Wing L (1998). "The history of Asperger syndrome". In Schopler E, Mesibov GB, Kunce LJ (eds.). Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism?. New York: Plenum press. pp. 11–25. ISBN 978-0-306-45746-3. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016.
  29. ^ Woodbury-Smith M, Klin A, Volkmar F (April 2005). "Asperger's syndrome: a comparison of clinical diagnoses and those made according to the ICD-10 and DSM-IV". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 35 (2): 235–40. doi:10.1007/s10803-004-2002-x. PMID 15909409. S2CID 12417580.
  30. ^ Baker L (2004). Asperger's Syndrome: Intervening in Schools, Clinics, and Communities. Routledge. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-135-62414-9. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016.