High-functioning autism

High-functioning autism
Other namesSukhareva syndrome[1]
SpecialtyPsychiatry
SymptomsTrouble with social interaction, impaired communication, restricted interests, repetitive behavior
ComplicationsSocial isolation, employment problems, family stress, bullying, self-harm[2]
Usual onsetBy age two or three[3][4]
DurationLifelong
CausesGenetic and environmental factors
Diagnostic methodBased on behavior and developmental history
Differential diagnosisAsperger syndrome, ADHD, Tourette syndrome, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder
TreatmentBehavioral therapy, speech therapy, psychotropic medication[5][6][7]
MedicationAntipsychotics, antidepressants, stimulants (associated symptoms)[8][9][10]

High-functioning autism (HFA) was historically an autism classification to describe a person who exhibited no intellectual disability but otherwise showed autistic traits, such as difficulty in social interaction and communication, as well as repetitive, restricted patterns of behavior. The term is often applied to autistic people who are fluently verbal and of at least average intelligence.[11][12][13] However, many in medical and autistic communities have called to stop using the term, finding it simplistic and unindicative of the difficulties some autistic people face. [14][15][16][17]

HFA has never been included in either the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) or the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases (ICD), the two major classification and diagnostic guidelines for psychiatric conditions.

The DSM-5-TR subtypes autism into three levels based on support needs. Autism Level 1 has the least support needs and corresponds most closely with the "high-functioning" identifier.[18]

  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. PMID 25826582. S2CID 207473133.
  2. ^ "Autism spectrum disorder - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic. Archived from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  3. ^ "NIMH " Autism Spectrum Disorder". nimh.nih.gov. October 2016. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  4. ^ American Psychiatric Association (2013). "Autism Spectrum Disorder. 299.00 (F84.0)". Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. pp. 50–59. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596. hdl:2027.42/138395. ISBN 978-0-89042-559-6.
  5. ^ Myers SM, Johnson CP (November 2007). "Management of children with autism spectrum disorders". Pediatrics. 120 (5): 1162–82. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2362. PMID 17967921. Archived from the original on 2019-03-23. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  6. ^ Sanchack KE, Thomas CA (15 December 2016). "Autism Spectrum Disorder: Primary Care Principles". American Family Physician. 94 (12): 972–79. PMID 28075089.
  7. ^ Sukhodolsky DG, Bloch MH, Panza KE, Reichow B (November 2013). "Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety in children with high-functioning autism: a meta-analysis". Pediatrics. 132 (5): e1341–50. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-1193. PMC 3813396. PMID 24167175.
  8. ^ Ji N, Findling RL (March 2015). "An update on pharmacotherapy for autism spectrum disorder in children and adolescents". Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 28 (2): 91–101. doi:10.1097/YCO.0000000000000132. PMID 25602248. S2CID 206141453.
  9. ^ Oswald DP, Sonenklar NA (June 2007). "Medication use among children with autism spectrum disorders". Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. 17 (3): 348–55. doi:10.1089/cap.2006.17303. PMID 17630868.
  10. ^ Jaeggi SM, Buschkuehl M, Jonides J, Perrig WJ (2008). "From the Cover: Improving fluid intelligence with training on working memory". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 105 (19): 6829–33. Bibcode:2008PNAS..105.6829J. doi:10.1073/pnas.0801268105. PMC 2383929. PMID 18443283.
  11. ^ Sanders JL (2009). "Qualitative or Quantitative Differences Between Asperger's Disorder and Autism? Historical Considerations". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 39 (11): 1560–1567. doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0798-0. ISSN 0162-3257. PMID 19548078. S2CID 26351778.
  12. ^ Carpenter LA, Soorya L, Halpern D (2009). "Asperger's Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism". Pediatric Annals. 38 (1): 30–5. doi:10.3928/00904481-20090101-01. PMID 19213291.
  13. ^ Andari E, Duhamel JR, Zalla T, Herbrecht E, Leboyer M, Sirigu A (2 March 2019). "Promoting social behavior with oxytocin in highfunctioning autism spectrum disorders" (PDF). PNAS. 107 (9): 4389–4394. doi:10.1073/pnas.0910249107. PMC 2840168. PMID 20160081.
  14. ^ "Making information and the words we use accessible". NHS England. August 25, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  15. ^ Price D (April 5, 2002). Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity. National Geographic Books. p. 47. ISBN 9780593235232.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  16. ^ Alvares GA (June 19, 2019). "The misnomer of 'high functioning autism': Intelligence is an imprecise predictor of functional abilities at diagnosis". Autism. 24 (1): 221–232. doi:10.1177/1362361319852831. PMID 31215791 – via NIH: National Library of Medicine.
  17. ^ Coffey LT (August 13, 2021). "Autism glossary: What to say, and what not to say, when talking about autism". Today (TV show). Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  18. ^ The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR) ed.). American Psychiatric Association (APA). March 18, 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)