Jump to content

Asperger syndrome: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Undid revision 157331068 by 12.158.161.102 (talk) revert vandalism
Line 38: Line 38:


=== Restricted and repetitive interests and behavior ===
=== Restricted and repetitive interests and behavior ===
People with AS display restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities that can include interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus, inflexible adherence to routines or rituals, stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms, or a preoccupation with parts of objects.<ref name = "BehaveNet"/>
People with AS display behavior, interests, and activities that are restricted and repetitive and are sometimes abnormally intense or focused. They may show inflexible adherence to routines or rituals, stereotyped and repetitive motor behavior, or a preoccupation with parts of objects.<ref name=BehaveNet/>
With respect to the restricted interests of those with AS, "one of the most striking features of individuals with AS is their passionate pursuit of specific areas of interest" (McPartland and Klin of the [[Yale Child Study Center]]).<ref name="McPartland"/>
Individuals with AS may amass volumes of detailed information on unusual topics of special interest.<ref name="Klin"/><ref name="McPartland"/> While many children have developmentally appropriate interests in topics such as dinosaurs or trains, a child with AS may also be interested in transistors, subway tokens, deep fat fryers, or members of congress. These interests may have an exclusive, obsessive quality and an absence of genuine understanding of broader phenomena related to the topic.<ref name="Klin"/><ref name="McPartland"/> For example, "a child might be interested in memorizing the model numbers of antique cameras without any interest in photography".<ref name="McPartland"/> Asperger described good memory for trivial facts (occasionally even [[eidetic memory]]) in some of his patients;<ref name=lw>{{cite journal |author=Wing L |title=Asperger's syndrome: a clinical account |journal=Psychological medicine |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=115–29 |year=1981 |pmid=7208735 |url=http://www.mugsy.org/wing2.htm | accessdate= 2007-08-15}}</ref><ref name="Hippler">{{cite journal |author=Hippler K, Klicpera C |title=A retrospective analysis of the clinical case records of 'autistic psychopaths' diagnosed by Hans Asperger and his team at the University Children's Hospital, Vienna |journal=Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., B, Biol. Sci. |volume=358 |issue=1430 |pages=291-301 |year=2003 |pmid=12639327 |doi=10.1098/rstb.2002.1197|url=http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1693115}}</ref> but, despite occasional appearances to the contrary,<ref>{{cite journal |journal= J Child Psychol Psychiatry |year=1989 |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=631–8 |title= Asperger syndrome—some epidemiological considerations: a research note |author= Gillberg IC, Gillberg C |pmid=2670981}}</ref> this may involve more [[Rote learning|rote memorization]] than real understanding.<ref name=lw />


The passionate pursuit of special interests is usually apparent by the time children with AS enter grade school (typically age 5 or 6 in the US). This may be at the expense of their developing typical peer relationships or pursuing other activities.<ref name="emed">Brasic, JR. [http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic147.htm Pervasive Developmental Disorder: Asperger Syndrome]. eMedicine.com ([[April 10]], [[2006]]). Retrieved [[15 July]] [[2007]].</ref><ref name="McPartland"/> The topic of interest may change over time, but often dominates social relationships, contributing to the social difficulties accompanying AS.<ref name="Klin"/><ref name="McPartland"/> The entire family may become immersed in the narrow topic of interest.<ref name="Klin"/> Because topics such as dinosaurs and fictional characters often capture the interest of children, this symptom may go unrecognized, and may not be apparent until the interests become more unusual and focused over time.<ref name="Klin"/>
Pursuit of specific and narrow areas of interest is one of the most striking features of AS.<ref name=McPartland/> Individuals with AS may amass volumes of detailed information on a relatively narrow topic such as dinosaurs or deep fat fryers, without necessarily having genuine understanding of the broader topic.<ref name=McPartland/><ref name=Klin/> For example, a child might memorize camera model numbers while caring little about photography.<ref name=McPartland/> This behavior is typically apparent by grade school, typically age 5 or 6 in the US.<ref name=McPartland/> The entire family may become immersed in the narrow topic. Because topics such as dinosaurs often capture the interest of children, this symptom may go unrecognized, and may not be apparent until the interests become more unusual and focused over time.<ref name=Klin/>


Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms may involve hand movements such as flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements;<ref name="BehaveNet"/> people with AS may display compulsive finger, hand, arm or leg movements,<ref name=Aquilla> Aquilla P, Yack E, Sutton S. "Sensory and motor differences for individuals with Asperger Syndrome: Occupational therapy assessment and intervention" in Stoddart, Kevin P. (Editor) (2005), p. 198.</ref> including [[tic]]s and [[stereotypy (psychiatry)|stereotypies]].<ref>Jankovic J, Mejia NI. "Tics associated with other disorders". ''Adv Neurol.'' 2006;99:61–68. PMID 16536352</ref><ref>Mejia NI, Jankovic J. Secondary tics and tourettism. ''Rev Bras Psiquiatr''. 2005;27(1):11–17. PMID 15867978 [http://web.archive.org/web/20070628191850/http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbp/v27n1/23707.pdf Full-text PDF]</ref> Stereotypies are typically repeated in longer bursts and look more voluntary or ritualistic than tics, which are usually faster, less rhythmical and more often asymmetrical than stereotypies. Although there is overlap, experienced clinicians rarely have difficulty distinguishing tics from stereotypies.<ref>{{cite journal |author= Rapin I |title= Autism spectrum disorders: relevance to Tourette syndrome |journal= Adv Neurol |volume=85 |pages=89–101 |year=2001 |pmid=11530449}}</ref>
[[Stereotypy (psychiatry)|Stereotyped]] and repetitive motor behavior are a core part of the diagnosis of AS and other ASDs.<ref>{{cite journal |journal= J Autism Dev Disord |year=2005 |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=145–58 |title= Repetitive behavior profiles in Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism |author= South M, Ozonoff S, McMahon WM |doi=10.1007/s10803-004-1992-8 |pmid=15909401}}</ref> They include hand movements such as flapping or twisting, and complex whole-body movements.<ref name=BehaveNet/> These are typically repeated in longer bursts and look more voluntary or ritualistic than [[tic]]s, which are usually faster, less rhythmical and more often asymmetrical.<ref>{{cite journal |author= Rapin I |title= Autism spectrum disorders: relevance to Tourette syndrome |journal= Adv Neurol |volume=85 |pages=89–101 |year=2001 |pmid=11530449}}</ref>


===Speech and language===
===Speech and language===
Line 120: Line 117:
Children with AS are vulnerable to being teased and victimized; some may require [[special education]] services because of their social and behavioral difficulties although many attend regular education classes.<ref name="Klin"/> Adolescents with AS may exhibit ongoing difficulty with self-care, organization and disturbances in social and romantic relationships;<ref>{{cite journal |author=Green J, Gilchrist A, Burton D, Cox A |title=Social and psychiatric functioning in adolescents with Asperger syndrome compared with conduct disorder |journal=Journal of autism and developmental disorders |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=279–93 |year=2000 |pmid=11039855}}</ref> despite high cognitive potential, most remain at home, although some do marry and work independently.<ref name="McPartland"/><ref>Tantam D. "Asperger's syndrome in adulthood." In: Frith U, editor. ''Autism and Asperger syndrome''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1991. pp. 147–83.</ref> The "different-ness" adolescents experience can be traumatic.<ref name="Moran">Moran, Mark. [http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/41/19/21 Asperger's May Be Answer To Diagnostic Mysteries.] ''Psychiatric News'' [[October 6]], [[2006]], Volume 41, Number 19, page 21</ref> Although the deficits associated with AS are often debilitating, many individuals experience positive outcomes—particularly those who are able to excel in areas less dependent on social interaction, such as mathematics, music, and the sciences. Reports suggest that many people with AS are highly creative and accomplish innovative research in fields such as computer science, mathematics, and physics.<ref name=emed/> Baron-Cohen reports a link between AS and high-achieving mathematicians, physicists and computer scientists that shows that the condition need not be an obstacle to achievement.<ref name=Baron-Cohen>{{cite journal |author=Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Skinner R, Martin J, Clubley E |title=The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians |journal=Journal of autism and developmental disorders |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=5–17 |year=2001 |pmid=11439754 | url = http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/docs/papers/2001_BCetal_AQ.pdf |format=PDF}} Erratum in: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Dec;31(6):603.</ref> The symptoms of AS can at some point "fade to normal" and people with AS can become valued workers as adults because of the "intensity of interest and volume of knowledge" that they may bring to idiosyncratic subjects,<ref name="Moran"/> but they may lose employment if impaired understanding of social norms leads to poor judgment in work site behavior.<ref name=emed/>
Children with AS are vulnerable to being teased and victimized; some may require [[special education]] services because of their social and behavioral difficulties although many attend regular education classes.<ref name="Klin"/> Adolescents with AS may exhibit ongoing difficulty with self-care, organization and disturbances in social and romantic relationships;<ref>{{cite journal |author=Green J, Gilchrist A, Burton D, Cox A |title=Social and psychiatric functioning in adolescents with Asperger syndrome compared with conduct disorder |journal=Journal of autism and developmental disorders |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=279–93 |year=2000 |pmid=11039855}}</ref> despite high cognitive potential, most remain at home, although some do marry and work independently.<ref name="McPartland"/><ref>Tantam D. "Asperger's syndrome in adulthood." In: Frith U, editor. ''Autism and Asperger syndrome''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1991. pp. 147–83.</ref> The "different-ness" adolescents experience can be traumatic.<ref name="Moran">Moran, Mark. [http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/41/19/21 Asperger's May Be Answer To Diagnostic Mysteries.] ''Psychiatric News'' [[October 6]], [[2006]], Volume 41, Number 19, page 21</ref> Although the deficits associated with AS are often debilitating, many individuals experience positive outcomes—particularly those who are able to excel in areas less dependent on social interaction, such as mathematics, music, and the sciences. Reports suggest that many people with AS are highly creative and accomplish innovative research in fields such as computer science, mathematics, and physics.<ref name=emed/> Baron-Cohen reports a link between AS and high-achieving mathematicians, physicists and computer scientists that shows that the condition need not be an obstacle to achievement.<ref name=Baron-Cohen>{{cite journal |author=Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Skinner R, Martin J, Clubley E |title=The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians |journal=Journal of autism and developmental disorders |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=5–17 |year=2001 |pmid=11439754 | url = http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/docs/papers/2001_BCetal_AQ.pdf |format=PDF}} Erratum in: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Dec;31(6):603.</ref> The symptoms of AS can at some point "fade to normal" and people with AS can become valued workers as adults because of the "intensity of interest and volume of knowledge" that they may bring to idiosyncratic subjects,<ref name="Moran"/> but they may lose employment if impaired understanding of social norms leads to poor judgment in work site behavior.<ref name=emed/>


Education of families is critical in developing strategies for understanding strengths and weaknesses;<ref name="Baskin"/> prognosis is improved when individuals with AS have supportive families who are knowledgeable about Asperger's.<ref name=emed/> Prognosis may be improved by diagnosis at a younger age that allows for early interventions, while interventions in adulthood are valuable but less beneficial.<ref name="Baskin"/> There are legal implications for individuals with AS as they run the risk of exploitation by others and may be unable to comprehend the societal implications of their actions.<ref name="Baskin"/> The hypothesis that the combination of intact intellectual and linguistic ability with limited empathy and social understanding may predispose individuals with AS to violent or criminal behavior has been investigated and found to be unsupported by data.<ref name="McPartland"/><ref>{{cite journal |journal= J Autism Dev Disord |year=2007 |title= Offending behaviour in adults with Asperger syndrome |author= Allen D, Evans C, Hider A, Hawkins S, Peckett H, Morgan H |pmid=17805955 |doi=10.1007/s10803-007-0442-9}}</ref>
Education of families is critical in developing strategies for understanding strengths and weaknesses;<ref name="Baskin"/> prognosis is improved when individuals with AS have supportive families who are knowledgeable about Asperger's.<ref name=emed>Brasic, JR. [http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic147.htm Pervasive Developmental Disorder: Asperger Syndrome]. eMedicine.com ([[April 10]] [[2006]]). Retrieved [[15 July]] [[2007]].</ref> Prognosis may be improved by diagnosis at a younger age that allows for early interventions, while interventions in adulthood are valuable but less beneficial.<ref name="Baskin"/> There are legal implications for individuals with AS as they run the risk of exploitation by others and may be unable to comprehend the societal implications of their actions.<ref name="Baskin"/> The hypothesis that the combination of intact intellectual and linguistic ability with limited empathy and social understanding may predispose individuals with AS to violent or criminal behavior has been investigated and found to be unsupported by data.<ref name="McPartland"/><ref>{{cite journal |journal= J Autism Dev Disord |year=2007 |title= Offending behaviour in adults with Asperger syndrome |author= Allen D, Evans C, Hider A, Hawkins S, Peckett H, Morgan H |pmid=17805955 |doi=10.1007/s10803-007-0442-9}}</ref>


==Epidemiology==
==Epidemiology==
Line 154: Line 151:
phänomenologisch-anthropologische. ''Untersuchung am Leitfaden der Sprache''. Berlin: Springer.</ref> that was translated to English eight years later,<ref> Bosch G (1970). Infantile autism – a clinical and phenomenological anthropological investigation taking language as the guide. Berlin: Springer.</ref> becoming one of the first to establish German research on autism, and attracting attention outside the German-speaking world.<ref name="Bosch">{{cite journal | title = Bosch’s Cases: a 40 years follow-up of patients with infantile autism and Asperger syndrome | author = Bölte S, Bosch G | url = http://web.archive.org/web/20040411195432/http://www.gjpsy.uni-goettingen.de/gjp-article-boelte.pdf | format = PDF|journal=Journal of Psychiatry|accessdate=2007-08-20}}</ref>
phänomenologisch-anthropologische. ''Untersuchung am Leitfaden der Sprache''. Berlin: Springer.</ref> that was translated to English eight years later,<ref> Bosch G (1970). Infantile autism – a clinical and phenomenological anthropological investigation taking language as the guide. Berlin: Springer.</ref> becoming one of the first to establish German research on autism, and attracting attention outside the German-speaking world.<ref name="Bosch">{{cite journal | title = Bosch’s Cases: a 40 years follow-up of patients with infantile autism and Asperger syndrome | author = Bölte S, Bosch G | url = http://web.archive.org/web/20040411195432/http://www.gjpsy.uni-goettingen.de/gjp-article-boelte.pdf | format = PDF|journal=Journal of Psychiatry|accessdate=2007-08-20}}</ref>


[[Lorna Wing]] is credited with widely popularizing the term "Asperger's syndrome" in the English-speaking medical community in her 1981 publication<ref name=lw/> of a series of case studies of children showing similar symptoms.<ref name="What'sSpecial"/> Wing also placed AS on the autism spectrum, although Asperger was uncomfortable characterizing his patient on the continuum of autistic spectrum disorders.<ref name="Baskin"/> She chose "Asperger's syndrome" as a neutral term to avoid the misunderstanding equated by the term ''autistic psychopathy'' with sociopathic behavior.<ref name="Mattila"/> Wing's translation and publication effectively introduced the diagnostic concept into American psychiatry and renamed the condition as Asperger's;<ref name="McPartland">{{cite journal |author= McPartland J, Klin A |title= Asperger's syndrome |journal= Adolesc Med Clin |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=771–88 |year=2006 |pmid=17030291 |doi=10.1016/j.admecli.2006.06.010}}</ref> however, her accounts blurred some of the distinctions between Asperger's and Kanner's descriptions because she included some mildly retarded children and some children who presented with language delays early in life.<ref name="Klin"/>
[[Lorna Wing]] is credited with widely popularizing the term "Asperger's syndrome" in the English-speaking medical community in her 1981 publication<ref>{{cite journal |author=Wing L |title=Asperger's syndrome: a clinical account |journal=Psychological medicine |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=115–29 |year=1981 |pmid=7208735 |url=http://www.mugsy.org/wing2.htm | accessdate= 2007-08-15}}</ref> of a series of case studies of children showing similar symptoms.<ref name="What'sSpecial"/> Wing also placed AS on the autism spectrum, although Asperger was uncomfortable characterizing his patient on the continuum of autistic spectrum disorders.<ref name="Baskin"/> She chose "Asperger's syndrome" as a neutral term to avoid the misunderstanding equated by the term ''autistic psychopathy'' with sociopathic behavior.<ref name="Mattila"/> Wing's translation and publication effectively introduced the diagnostic concept into American psychiatry and renamed the condition as Asperger's;<ref name="McPartland">{{cite journal |author= McPartland J, Klin A |title= Asperger's syndrome |journal= Adolesc Med Clin |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=771–88 |year=2006 |pmid=17030291 |doi=10.1016/j.admecli.2006.06.010}}</ref> however, her accounts blurred some of the distinctions between Asperger's and Kanner's descriptions because she included some mildly retarded children and some children who presented with language delays early in life.<ref name="Klin"/>


The first systematic studies appeared in the late 1980s in publications by Tantam (1988) in the UK, Gillberg and Gilbert in Sweden (1989), and Szatmari, Bartolucci and Bremmer (1989) in North America.<ref name="What'sSpecial"/> The diagnostic criteria for AS were outlined by Gillberg and Gillberg in 1989; Szatmari also proposed criteria in 1989.<ref name="Mattila">{{cite journal |author=Mattila ML, Kielinen M, Jussila K, ''et al'' |title=An epidemiological and diagnostic study of Asperger syndrome according to four sets of diagnostic criteria |journal=Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |volume=46 |issue=5 |pages=636–46 |year=2007 |pmid=17450055 |doi=10.1097/chi.0b013e318033ff42}}</ref> Asperger's work became more widely available in English when [[Uta Frith]], an early researcher of Kannerian autism, translated his original paper in 1991.<ref name="What'sSpecial"/> AS became a distinct diagnosis in 1992, when it was included in the 10th published edition of the World Health Organization’s diagnostic manual, International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10); in 1994, it was added to the fourth edition of the ''Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders'' (DSM-IV) as ''Asperger's Disorder''.<ref name=NINDS/>
The first systematic studies appeared in the late 1980s in publications by Tantam (1988) in the UK, Gillberg and Gilbert in Sweden (1989), and Szatmari, Bartolucci and Bremmer (1989) in North America.<ref name="What'sSpecial"/> The diagnostic criteria for AS were outlined by Gillberg and Gillberg in 1989; Szatmari also proposed criteria in 1989.<ref name="Mattila">{{cite journal |author=Mattila ML, Kielinen M, Jussila K, ''et al'' |title=An epidemiological and diagnostic study of Asperger syndrome according to four sets of diagnostic criteria |journal=Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |volume=46 |issue=5 |pages=636–46 |year=2007 |pmid=17450055 |doi=10.1097/chi.0b013e318033ff42}}</ref> Asperger's work became more widely available in English when [[Uta Frith]], an early researcher of Kannerian autism, translated his original paper in 1991.<ref name="What'sSpecial"/> AS became a distinct diagnosis in 1992, when it was included in the 10th published edition of the World Health Organization’s diagnostic manual, International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10); in 1994, it was added to the fourth edition of the ''Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders'' (DSM-IV) as ''Asperger's Disorder''.<ref name=NINDS/>

Revision as of 07:55, 12 September 2007

Asperger syndrome
SpecialtyPsychiatry Edit this on Wikidata

Asperger syndrome (also Asperger's syndrome, Asperger's disorder, Asperger's, or AS) is one of several autism spectrum disorders (ASD) that are characterized by difficulties in social communication and reciprocal social skills, and in restricted and stereotyped interests and activities. AS is distinguished from the other ASDs by having no general delay in language or cognitive development. Although not mentioned in standard diagnostic criteria, language peculiarities and motor clumsiness are frequently reported.[1][2]

Asperger syndrome was named in honor of Hans Asperger who, in 1944, described children in his practice who appeared to have normal intelligence but lacked nonverbal communication skills, failed to demonstrate empathy with their peers, and were physically clumsy. In 1994, AS was recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) as Asperger's Disorder. Questions about many aspects of AS remain: the diagnostic validity of Asperger syndrome is disputed, there is lingering doubt about the distinction between AS and high-functioning autism (HFA);[3] partly due to this, the prevalence of AS is not firmly established. The exact cause of AS is unknown, although research supports the likelihood of a genetic contribution, and brain imaging techniques have identified structural and functional differences in specific regions of the brain.

There is no single treatment for AS, and only limited data support the effectiveness of particular interventions. Intervention is aimed at ameliorating symptoms and improving function. The mainstay of treatment is behavioral therapy, focusing on specific deficits to address poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and clumsiness. Most individuals with AS can learn to cope with their differences, but may continue to need moral support and encouragement to maintain an independent life.[4] The deficits associated with AS may be debilitating, but many individuals are able to excel, especially in areas that are less dependent on social interaction, including mathematics, music, and computer sciences.[5] Researchers and people with AS have contributed to a shift in attitudes, away from the notion that AS is a deviation from the norm that must be treated or cured, and towards the view that AS is a difference rather than a disability.

File:Asperger kl2.jpg
Hans Asperger described his young patients in the 1940s as "little professors".

Classification

Asperger syndrome is one of the pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) or autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which are characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interaction and communication, restricted and repetitive interests and behavior.[6] ASD, in turn, is a subset of the broader autism phenotype (BAP), which describes individuals who may not have ASD but do have autistic-like traits, such as avoiding eye contact.[7] Of the other four ASD forms, autism is most similar to AS in signs and likely causes; Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder share several signs with autism, but may have unrelated causes; and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) is diagnosed when the criteria are not met for a more specific disorder.[8] Unlike autism, AS has no substantial delay in language or cognitive development.[9]

The extent of the overlap between AS and high-functioning autism (HFA—autism unaccompanied by mental retardation) is unclear.[3][10][11] The current ASD classification may not reflect the true nature of the conditions.[12]

Characteristics

AS is distinguished by a pattern of symptoms rather than one single symptom. It is characterized by impairments in social interaction, and repetitive and sterotyped behaviors and interests, without significant delay in language or cognitive development.[9] Intense preoccupation with a narrow subject, one-sided verbosity, restricted prosody and intonation, and motor clumsiness are typical of the condition, but are not required for diagnosis.[3]

Social interaction

The lack of demonstrated empathy is possibly AS's most dysfunctional aspect.[2] Individuals with AS experience difficulties in basic elements of social interaction, which may include a failure to develop friendships or enjoy spontaneous interests or achievements with others, lack of social or emotional reciprocity, and impaired nonverbal behaviors such as eye contact, facial expression, posture, and gesture.[1]

Unlike those with autism, people with AS are not usually withdrawn around others; they approach others, even if awkwardly, for example by engaging in a one-sided, long-winded speech about an unusual topic while being oblivious of the other person’s feelings or reactions, such as signs of boredom or wanting to leave.[3] This social awkwardness has been called "active, but odd".[13] This failure to react appropriately to social interaction may appear as disregard for other people's feelings, and may come across as insensitive. The cognitive ability of children with AS often lets them articulate social norms in a laboratory context,[1] where they may be able to show a theoretical understanding of other people’s emotions, but they have difficulty acting on this knowledge in fluid real-life situations.[3] People with AS may analyze and distill their observation of social interaction into rigid behavioral guidelines, and apply these rules in awkward ways—such as forced eye contact—resulting in demeanor that appears rigid or socially naïve. Childhood desires for companionship can be numbed through a history of failed social encounters.[1]

Restricted and repetitive interests and behavior

People with AS display behavior, interests, and activities that are restricted and repetitive and are sometimes abnormally intense or focused. They may show inflexible adherence to routines or rituals, stereotyped and repetitive motor behavior, or a preoccupation with parts of objects.[9]

Pursuit of specific and narrow areas of interest is one of the most striking features of AS.[1] Individuals with AS may amass volumes of detailed information on a relatively narrow topic such as dinosaurs or deep fat fryers, without necessarily having genuine understanding of the broader topic.[1][3] For example, a child might memorize camera model numbers while caring little about photography.[1] This behavior is typically apparent by grade school, typically age 5 or 6 in the US.[1] The entire family may become immersed in the narrow topic. Because topics such as dinosaurs often capture the interest of children, this symptom may go unrecognized, and may not be apparent until the interests become more unusual and focused over time.[3]

Stereotyped and repetitive motor behavior are a core part of the diagnosis of AS and other ASDs.[14] They include hand movements such as flapping or twisting, and complex whole-body movements.[9] These are typically repeated in longer bursts and look more voluntary or ritualistic than tics, which are usually faster, less rhythmical and more often asymmetrical.[15]

Speech and language

Although children with AS acquire language skills without significant general delay, and the speech of those with AS typically lacks significant abnormalities, language acquisition and use is often atypical.[3] Abnormalities include verbosity; abrupt transitions; literal interpretations and miscomprehension of nuance; use of metaphor meaningful only to the speaker; auditory perception deficits; unusually pedantic, formal or idiosyncratic speech; and oddities in loudness, pitch, intonation, prosody, and rhythm.[1]

Three aspects of communication patterns are of clinical interest: poor prosody, tangential and circumstantial speech, and marked verbosity. Although inflection and intonation may be less rigid or monotonic than in autism, people with AS often have a limited range of intonation; speech may be overly fast, jerky or loud. Speech may convey a sense of incoherence; the conversational style often includes monologues about topics that bore the listener, fails to provide context for comments, or fails to suppress internal thoughts. Individuals with AS may fail to monitor whether the listener is interested or engaged in the conversation. The speaker's conclusion or point may never be made, and attempts by the listener to elaborate on the speech's content or logic, or to shift to related topics, are often unsuccessful.[3]

Children with AS may have an unusually sophisticated vocabulary at a young age and have been colloquially called "little professors", but have difficulty understanding metaphorical language and tend to use language literally.[1] Individuals with AS appear to have particular weaknesses in areas of nonliteral language that include humor, irony, and teasing. They usually understand the cognitive basis of humor but may not enjoy it due to lack of understanding of its intent.[11]

Other

Christopher Gillberg writes "Children with autism spectrum disorders, notably those with Asperger syndrome, have long been reported to suffer from the kind of motor clumsiness currently subsumed under the DCD [Developmental Coordination Disorder] label."[16] Problems with motor skills are not part of the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, but Asperger’s initial accounts[1] and other diagnostic schemes[17] include descriptions of motor clumsiness. Children with AS may be delayed in acquiring motor skills that require motor dexterity, such as bicycle riding or opening a jar, and may appear awkward or "uncomfortable in their own skin". They may be poorly coordinated, or have an odd or bouncy gait or posture, poor handwriting, or problems with visual–motor integration, visual–perceptual skills, and conceptual learning,[3][1] while having "relative strengths in auditory and verbal skills and rote learning".[3] Research also shows problems with proprioception and "deficits on measures of apraxia, balance tandem gait, and finger–thumb apposition".[18] There is no evidence that these motor skills problems differentiate AS from other high-functioning ASDs.[1]

Children with AS may be sensitive to sound (hyperacusis), touch, taste, sight, smell, pain, temperature, and the texture of foods; they may exhibit synesthesia,[5] a neurologically based phenomenon in which the stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. A review of all controlled investigations published since 1960 showed that sensory symptoms were more frequent in children with autism, but there was little support for hyperarousal or habituation in autism; there was evidence of hyporesponsiveness to sensory stimuli, although many of these findings have not been replicated.[19]

According to McPartland and Klin (2006), a unique neuropsychological profile has been described for AS and confirmed in a review of the literature;[20] if verified, it could differentiate between AS and HFA and aid in differential diagnosis. Relative to HFA, people with AS have deficits in "fine and gross motor skills; visual motor integration; visual-spatial perception; nonverbal concept formation; and visual memory with preserved articulation, verbal output, auditory perception, vocabulary, and verbal memory".[21] Verbal abilities are stronger than performance abilities and indicate weakness in visual–spatial organization and graphomotor skills.[22] Most subjects with AS in another study had a "neuropsychologic profile consistent with a nonverbal learning disability".[23] The literature review did not reveal consistent findings of "nonverbal weaknesses or increased spatial or motor problems relative to individuals with HFA", leading some researchers to argue that increased cognitive ability is evidenced in AS relative to HFA regardless of differences in verbal and nonverbal ability.[24]

Alexithymia is a personality trait of people who have difficulty recognizing, processing and regulating emotions.[25] Uta Frith reported that alexithymia overlaps with AS, and that at least half of the Asperger syndrome subjects in a study obtained scores that indicate severe impairment.[26] Other researchers concur that both conditions are characterized by core disturbances in speech and language and social relationships[27][28] and the limbic system and prefrontal cortex may be involved in both.[2][29] Alexithymic traits in AS may be linked to depression or anxiety;[26] the mediating factors are unknown and it is possible that alexithymia predisposes a person to anxiety.[29]

Diagnosis

Asperger's Disorder is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) by six main criteria.[clarification needed][9]

The ICD-10 criteria are almost identical to DSM-IV:[30] ICD-10 adds the statement that motor clumsiness is usual (although not necessarily a diagnostic feature); ICD-10 adds the statement that isolated special skills, often related to abnormal preoccupations, are common but are not required for diagnosis; and the DSM-IV requirement for clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning is not included in ICD-10.[31][2]

The DSM-IV and ICD-10 diagnostic criteria have been criticized for being too broad and inadequate for assessing adults,[32] overly narrow (particularly in relation to Hans Asperger's original description of individuals with AS),[30][33] and vague;[17] results of a large study in 2007 comparing the four sets of criteria point to a "huge need to reconsider the diagnostic criteria of AS."[31] The diagnoses of AS or HFA are sometimes used interchangeably; the same child can receive different diagnoses depending on the screening tool.[4] Diagnoses may be influenced by non-technical issues, such as availability of government benefits for one condition but not the other.[34] The 2007 study found complete overlap across all sets of diagnostic criteria in the impairment of social interaction with the exception of four cases not diagnosed by the Szatmari et al. criteria because of its emphasis on social solitariness.[clarification needed] Lack of overlap was strongest in the language delay and odd speech requirements of the Gillberg and the Szatmari requirements.[clarification needed] relative to DSM-IV and ICD-10, in the differing requirements regarding general delays, and in DSM's requirement for impairment.[31]

Signs suggestive of AS are often[4][failed verification] noted by a general practitioner or pediatrician during a routine developmental check up. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke advise that this be followed up with a comprehensive team evaluation to either confirm or exclude a diagnosis of AS.[1] Foster and King state that the determination of whether there is a family history of autism spectrum conditions can be important.[35] Fitzgerald states that a multidisciplinary team approach can be critical to avoiding misdiagnosis;[30] an accurate assessment of the individual's strengths and weaknesses has been found more useful than a diagnostic label.[1] Delayed or mistaken diagnosis is regarded as a serious problem that can be traumatic for individuals and families; diagnosis based solely on a neurological, speech and language, or educational attainment may yield only a partial diagnosis.[30]

Foster and King found that parents of children with AS can typically trace differences in their children's development to as early as 30 months of age, although diagnosis is not made on average until the age of 11.[35] By definition, children with AS develop language and self-help skills on schedule, so early signs may not be apparent and the condition may not be diagnosed until later childhood. Impairment in social interaction is sometimes not in evidence until a child attains an age at which these behaviors become important; social disabilities are often first noticed when children encounter peers in daycare or preschool.[1] Diagnosis is most commonly made between the ages of four and eleven, and one study suggests that diagnosis cannot be rendered reliably before age four.[1]

Asperger syndrome can be misdiagnosed as a number of other conditions, leading to medications that are unnecessary or even worsen behavior.[30]

Causes

Asperger described common symptoms among his patients' family members, especially fathers,[1] and research supports this observation and suggests a genetic contribution to AS.[1][35] Although no specific gene has yet been identified, multiple factors are believed to play a role in the expression of autism, given the phenotypic variability seen in this group of children.[35] Evidence for a genetic link is the tendency for AS to run in families and an observed higher incidence of family members who have behavioral symptoms similar to AS but in a more limited form (for example, slight difficulties with social interaction, language, or reading).[4] Most research suggests that all autism spectrum disorders have shared genetic mechanisms, but AS may have a stronger genetic component than autism.[1] There is probably a common group of genes where particular alleles render an individual vulnerable to developing AS; if this is the case, the particular combination of alleles would determine the severity and symptoms for each individual with AS.[4] No gene has been identified for AS, although studies suggest specific genetic abnormalities: such as various types of chromosomal translocations in chromosomes 1, 5, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 17; autosomal fragile site, fragile X syndrome, fragile Y, and 21pþ.[1] Anomalies in chromosome 22 were related to the diagnosis of autism and Asperger syndrome in five children. The distal tip of the long arm of the chromosome 22 contains the SHANK3 gene, which is thought to have a role in the maturation and maintenance of brain synapses. The deletion of this part of the chromosome (22q13 deletion syndrome) was found in low-functioning autistic subjects, and its duplication observed in a subject diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.[36]

Environmental factors may interact with genetic influences to play a role in the cause of ASDs, but research has identified no consistent correlations.[1] There is strong evidence that genetic factors play a major role in the causes of autism spectrum disorders, while none of the possible environmental causes has been confirmed by scientific investigation.[37]

Mechanism

Brain imaging techniques have revealed structural and functional differences in specific regions of the brains of AS children; these are most likely caused by the abnormal migration of embryonic cells during fetal development, which affects the final structure and connectivity of the brain, resulting in alterations in the neural circuits that control thought and behavior.[4] Although progress has been made, brain imaging technologies have failed to identify the specific underpinnings of AS or factors that distinguish it from other ASDs and no clear pathology common to individuals with AS has emerged.[1] Functional MRI has provided interesting findings, but no convincing evidence reproducibly indicates differences among AS and other ASDs.[1]

One study reported a reduction of brain activity in the frontal lobe of AS children when they were asked to respond to tasks that required them to use their judgment. These differences in activity were also seen when children were asked to respond to facial expressions.[4] Another study, of brain function in adults with AS, revealed abnormal levels of some proteins and demonstrated a correlation between these levels and obsessive and repetitive behaviors.[4] Possible differences in AS include:[1] gray tissue anomalies,[38][39] left temporal lobe damage,[40] and left occipital hypoperfusion.[41] Other possible causative mechanisms include serotonin dysfunction and cerebellar dysfunction.[42][43] Differences in brain volumes—such as enlarged amygdala and hippocampus—have been linked to autism;[44] the most robust findings are of the reduced size of the corpus callosum and rapid brain growth and increased brain volume in early childhood that normalizes in mid-childhood.[45] Other research suggests abnormal right hemisphere functioning in AS,[46] dysfunction in brain regions affecting social cognition,[47] and problems with functional connectivity among separate brain regions.[48]

Simon Baron-Cohen proposes a model for Asperger's[49] that extends the extreme male brain theory, which hypothesizes that autism is an extreme case of the male brain, defined psychometrically as individuals in whom systemizing is better than empathizing.[50] Hyper-systemizing hypothesizes that autistic individuals can systematize—that is, they can develop internal rules of operation to handle internal events—but are less effective at empathizing by handling events generated by other agents.[51] This in turn is related to the earlier theory of mind, which hypothesizes that autistic behavior arises from an inability to ascribe mental states to oneself and others.[52] Two studies showed that Asperger subjects had a second-order theory of mind; compared to younger or more impaired autistic individuals, they were able to understand problems of the type "Peter thinks that Jane thinks that ..." although their explanations of their solutions did not use mental states.[53] There is some evidence that the mind-reading capacity of children in the higher-functioning range of the autistic spectrum are intact.[54]

Treatment

The goal of treatment is the development of age-appropriate social, communication and vocational abilities, and the successful management of distressing symptoms, aiming to teach through explicit instruction the skills that are not naturally acquired during development.[1] Intervention should be tailored to the needs of the individual child, based on multidisciplinary assessment.[55] Although progress has been made, data supporting the efficacy of particular interventions are limited.[1]

The ideal treatment for AS coordinates therapies that address the three core symptoms of the disorder: poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness. While most professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better, there is no single best treatment package.[4] AS treatment resembles that of other high-functioning ASDs, except that it takes into account the linguistic capabilities, verbal strengths, and nonverbal vulnerabilities of individuals with AS.[1] A typical treatment program generally includes:[4]

There have been many studies on psychologically based early intervention programs; most of these are case studies of up to five participants.[56] These studies typically examine non-core autistic problem behaviors such as self-injury, aggression, noncompliance, stereotypies and spontaneous language.[56] Despite the widespread application of social skills training, its effectiveness is not firmly established.[57] A randomized controlled study of a model for training parents in problem behaviors in their children with AS showed that parents attending a 1-day workshop or six individual lessons reported fewer behavioral problems, while parents receiving the individual lessons reported less intense behavioral problems in their AS children.[58] Vocational training is important to teach job interview etiquette and workplace behavior to older children and adults with AS, and organization software and personal data assistants to improve the work and life management of people with AS are useful.[1]

No medications specifically target AS[2] or directly treat the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders; research into the efficacy of pharmaceutical intervention for AS is limited.[1] However, it is essential to diagnose and treat comorbid conditions;[2] medication can be effective in combination with behavioral interventions and environmental accommodations in treating comorbid symptoms such as anxiety, depression, inattention and aggression.[1] The atypical neuroleptic medications risperidone and olanzapine have been shown to reduce the associated symptoms of AS;[1] risperidone can reduce repetitive and self-injurious behaviors, aggressive outbursts and impulsivity, and improve stereotypical patterns of behavior and social relatedness. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine, fluvoxamine and sertraline have been effective in treating restricted and repetitive interests and behaviors.[2][35][1]

Care must be taken in the management of pharmacotherapy; abnormalities in metabolism, cardiac conduction times, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes have been raised as concerns with these medications[59][60] and unintended side effects have largely been ignored in the literature.[56] SSRIs can lead to manifestations of behavioral activation such as increased impulsivity, aggression and sleep disturbance.[35] Weight gain and fatigue are commonly reported side effects of risperidone, which may also lead to increased risk for extrapyramidal symptoms such as restlessness and dystonia[35] and increased serum prolactin levels.[61] Sedation and weight gain are more common with olanzapine,[60] which has also been linked with diabetes.[59] Sedative side-effects in school-age children[62] have ramifications for classroom learning. Individuals with AS may be unable to identify and communicate their internal moods and emotions or to tolerate side effects that for most people would not be problematic.[63]

Shift in view

Autistic people have contributed to a shift in perception of autism spectrum disorders as complex syndromes rather than diseases that must be cured.[64] Proponents of this view reject the notion that there is an "ideal" brain configuration and that any deviation from the norm is pathological; they demand tolerance for what they call their neurodiversity.[65] These views are the basis for the autistic rights and autistic pride movements.[66]

Researcher Simon Baron-Cohen has argued that both AS and high-functioning autism are "differences" and not necessarily "disabilities."[67] In proposing the more neutral term "difference", he suggests a subtle but important shift of emphasis to characterization of autism as a different cognitive style; this small shift in a term could mean the difference between a diagnosis of AS being received as a family tragedy, or as interesting information, such as learning that a child is left-handed. People with Asperger's, according to Baron-Cohen, "might not necessarily be disabled in an environment in which an exact mind, attracted to detecting small details, is an advantage".[67] Attwood argues that "... the unusual profile of abilities that we define as Asperger's Syndrome has probably been an important and valuable characteristic of our species throughout evolution".[68]

Prognosis

As of 2006, no studies addressing the long-term outcome of individuals with AS are available and there are no systematic long-term follow-up studies of children with AS.[3] Individuals with AS appear to have normal life expectancy but have an increased prevalence of comorbid psychiatric conditions such as depression, mood disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder that may significantly affect prognosis. Although the social impairment is believed to be lifelong,[5] outcome is generally more positive than with individuals with lower functioning autism spectrum disorders.[1][69]

Children with AS are vulnerable to being teased and victimized; some may require special education services because of their social and behavioral difficulties although many attend regular education classes.[3] Adolescents with AS may exhibit ongoing difficulty with self-care, organization and disturbances in social and romantic relationships;[70] despite high cognitive potential, most remain at home, although some do marry and work independently.[1][71] The "different-ness" adolescents experience can be traumatic.[72] Although the deficits associated with AS are often debilitating, many individuals experience positive outcomes—particularly those who are able to excel in areas less dependent on social interaction, such as mathematics, music, and the sciences. Reports suggest that many people with AS are highly creative and accomplish innovative research in fields such as computer science, mathematics, and physics.[5] Baron-Cohen reports a link between AS and high-achieving mathematicians, physicists and computer scientists that shows that the condition need not be an obstacle to achievement.[73] The symptoms of AS can at some point "fade to normal" and people with AS can become valued workers as adults because of the "intensity of interest and volume of knowledge" that they may bring to idiosyncratic subjects,[72] but they may lose employment if impaired understanding of social norms leads to poor judgment in work site behavior.[5]

Education of families is critical in developing strategies for understanding strengths and weaknesses;[2] prognosis is improved when individuals with AS have supportive families who are knowledgeable about Asperger's.[5] Prognosis may be improved by diagnosis at a younger age that allows for early interventions, while interventions in adulthood are valuable but less beneficial.[2] There are legal implications for individuals with AS as they run the risk of exploitation by others and may be unable to comprehend the societal implications of their actions.[2] The hypothesis that the combination of intact intellectual and linguistic ability with limited empathy and social understanding may predispose individuals with AS to violent or criminal behavior has been investigated and found to be unsupported by data.[1][74]

Epidemiology

The incidence of AS is not well established, but conservative estimates using the DSM-IV criteria indicate that two to three of every 10,000 children have the condition, making it rarer than autistic disorder itself.[4][75] A computerized registry in Denmark indicates an annual incidence of 1.4 per 10,000 for AS.[2] Advocacy and parent support organizations have proliferated around the concept of AS, and there are indications that this has resulted in more frequent diagnoses of AS, which may be given as a "residual diagnosis" to children of normal intelligence who do not meet diagnostic criteria for autism but have some social difficulties.[3]

A 2003 review of epidemiological studies[76] found prevalence rates ranging from .03 to 4.8 per 1,000; the authors suggested a working rate of .26 per 1,000.[1] A 1993 Sweden study found the prevalence of AS was 3.6 per 1,000 among school-aged children aged 7–16 using Gillberg's criteria, rising to 7.1 per 1,000 if suspected cases are included.[17] The estimate is convincing for Sweden, but the findings may not apply elsewhere because they are based on a homogeneous population.[5]

Prevalence estimates vary according to the diagnostic criteria employed. An epidemiological study of 5,484 eight-year-old children in Finland found 2.9 children per 1,000 met the ICD-10 criteria for an AS diagnosis, 2.7 per 1,000 for Gillberg and Gillberg criteria, 2.5 for DSM-IV and 1.6 for Szatmari et al. The number of children diagnosed as having AS according to any of the four criteria was 4.3 per 1,000.[31] Leekam et al. documented significant differences between Gillberg's criteria and the ICD-10 criteria.[77]

Like other autism spectrum disorders, AS prevalence estimates for males are higher than for females.[4] The Sweden study found a 4:1 male to female ratio in subjects meeting Gillberg's criteria for AS, but a lower 2.3:1 ratio when suspected or borderline cases were included.[17] The Finland study found a "somewhat surprising" male-to-female ratio according to DSM-IV criteria of 0.8:1; Gillberg and Gillberg criteria yielded a 2:1 ratio and the ratio when including children diagnosed per any of the four sets of diagnostic criteria was 1.7:1. Females with AS may not be recognized in studies as they tend to be superficially more sociable than boys, although closer examination reveals problems in social interaction.[31]

Comorbidities

Most patients presenting in clinical settings with AS have other comorbid psychiatric disorders; children are likely to present with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while depression is a common diagnosis in adolescents and adults.[78] Many children with AS are initially misdiagnosed with ADHD.[1] Individuals with AS may also be diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder, antisocial personality disorder, tic disorders and Tourette syndrome, general anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.[79]

The conditions most commonly seen are depression and anxiety; comorbidity of these in persons with AS is estimated at 65%. Anxiety may stem from preoccupation over possible violations of routines and rituals or result from being placed in a situation without a clear schedule or expectations. Social anxiety (concern with failing in social encounters) may also manifest. Depression is often the result of chronic frustration from repeated failure to engage others socially, and mood disorders requiring treatment may develop.[1]

The particularly high comorbidity with anxiety often requires special attention; one study reported that about 84% of individuals with a pervasive developmental disorder also met the criteria for anxiety disorder.[80] Because of the social differences experienced by those with AS, such as trouble initiating or maintaining a conversation or adherence to strict rituals or schedules, additional stress to any of these activities may result in feelings of anxiety, which can negatively affect multiple areas of one's life, including school, family, and work. Anxiety disorders can be treated with medication or individual and group cognitive behavioral therapy, where relaxation or distraction-type activities may be used along with other techniques to diffuse the feelings of anxiety.[81]

Psychosocial factors may contribute to poor adjustment or psychiatric issues. An Internet survey of middle-class mothers of children with AS and nonverbal learning disorders found peer and sibling victimization of the children was common; 94% of mothers reported peer victimization of their children. According to the mothers, in the year leading up to the study, almost three-quarters of the children had been hit by peers or siblings and 75% had been emotionally bullied. More seriously, 10% of the children were attacked by a gang and 15% were victims of nonsexual assaults to the genitals. Many of the children ate alone at lunch or were picked last for sports teams, and a third had not been invited to a birthday party in the past year.[82]

Reports have associated AS with medical conditions such as aminoaciduria and ligamentous laxity, but these have been case reports or small studies and no factors have been associated with AS across studies.[1] An increased rate of epilepsy is reported in individuals with AS, and there is a high rate (51%) of non-verbal learning disability.[83]

History

Asperger syndrome is a relatively new diagnosis in the field of autism,[84] named in honor of Hans Asperger (1906–80), an Austrian psychiatrist and pediatrician. An English psychiatrist, Lorna Wing popularized the term "Asperger's syndrome" in a 1981 publication; the first book in English on Asperger syndrome was written by Uta Frith in 1991 and the condition was subsequently recognized in formal diagnostic manuals later in the 1990s.[84]

Asperger was the director of the University Children's Clinic in Vienna, spending most of his professional life in Vienna and publishing largely in German.[84] In 1944, Asperger described in the paper " 'Autistic psychopathy' in childhood"[85] four children in his practice[2] who had difficulty in integrating themselves socially. Although their intelligence appeared normal, the children lacked nonverbal communication skills, failed to demonstrate empathy with their peers, and were physically clumsy. Their speaking was either disjointed or overly formal, and their all-absorbing interest in a single topic dominated their conversations. Asperger called the condition "autistic psychopathy" and described it as primarily marked by social isolation.[4] Asperger called his young patients "little professors",[86] and believed the individuals he described would be capable of exceptional achievement and original thought later in life.[2]

Two subtypes of autism were described between 1943 and 1944 by two Austrian researchers working independently—Asperger and Austrian-born child psychiatrist Leo Kanner (1894–1981). Kanner immigrated to the United States in 1924;[84] he described a similar syndrome in 1943, known as "classic autism" or "Kannerian autism", characterized by significant cognitive and communicative deficiencies, including delayed or absent language development.[87] Kanner's descriptions were influenced by the developmental approach of Arnold Gesell, while Asperger was influenced by accounts of schizophrenia and personality disorders.[3] Asperger's frame of reference was Eugen Bleuler's typology, which Gillberg described as "out of keeping with current diagnostic manuals", adding that Asperger's desriptions are "penetrating but not sufficiently systematic".[17] Asperger was unaware of Kanner's description published a year before his;[3] the two researchers were separated by an ocean and a raging war, and Asperger's descriptions were ignored in the United States.[2] During his lifetime, Asperger's work, in German, remained largely unknown outside the German-speaking world.[84]

According to Ishikawa and Ichihashi in the Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine, the first author to use the term Asperger's syndrome in the English-language literature was the German physician, Gerhard Bosch.[88] Between 1951 and 1962, Bosch worked as a psychiatrist at Frankfurt University. In 1962, he published a monograph detailing five case histories of individuals with PDD[89] that was translated to English eight years later,[90] becoming one of the first to establish German research on autism, and attracting attention outside the German-speaking world.[91]

Lorna Wing is credited with widely popularizing the term "Asperger's syndrome" in the English-speaking medical community in her 1981 publication[92] of a series of case studies of children showing similar symptoms.[84] Wing also placed AS on the autism spectrum, although Asperger was uncomfortable characterizing his patient on the continuum of autistic spectrum disorders.[2] She chose "Asperger's syndrome" as a neutral term to avoid the misunderstanding equated by the term autistic psychopathy with sociopathic behavior.[31] Wing's translation and publication effectively introduced the diagnostic concept into American psychiatry and renamed the condition as Asperger's;[1] however, her accounts blurred some of the distinctions between Asperger's and Kanner's descriptions because she included some mildly retarded children and some children who presented with language delays early in life.[3]

The first systematic studies appeared in the late 1980s in publications by Tantam (1988) in the UK, Gillberg and Gilbert in Sweden (1989), and Szatmari, Bartolucci and Bremmer (1989) in North America.[84] The diagnostic criteria for AS were outlined by Gillberg and Gillberg in 1989; Szatmari also proposed criteria in 1989.[31] Asperger's work became more widely available in English when Uta Frith, an early researcher of Kannerian autism, translated his original paper in 1991.[84] AS became a distinct diagnosis in 1992, when it was included in the 10th published edition of the World Health Organization’s diagnostic manual, International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10); in 1994, it was added to the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV) as Asperger's Disorder.[4]

Less than two decades after the widespread introduction of AS to English-speaking audiences, there are hundreds of books, articles and websites describing it; prevalence figures have increased dramatically, with AS recognized as an important subgroup of the autism spectrum.[84] However, questions remain concerning many aspects of AS; whether it should be a separate condition from high-functioning autism is a fundamental issue requiring further study.[2] The diagnostic validity of Asperger syndrome is tentative, there is little consensus among clinical researchers about the usage of the term "Asperger's syndrome", and there are questions about the empirical validation of the DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria.[3] It is likely that the definition of the condition will change as new studies emerge[3] and it will eventually be understood as a multifactorial heterogenous neurodevelopmental disorder involving a catalyst that results in prenatal or perinatal changes in brain structures.[2]

Cultural aspects

People with AS may refer to themselves in casual conversation as "aspies", coined by Liane Holliday Willey in 1999,[93] or as an "Aspergian".[94] The term "neurotypical" (NT) describes a person whose neurological development and state are typical, and is often used to refer to people who are non-autistic.

In 2006 it was hypothesized that individiduals with ASDs are subject to assortative mating, that is, that they tend to mate with each other and produce offspring with ASD. This hypothesis was publicized in the popular press,[95] but has not been empirically tested. The published hypothesis is about the combination of AS and autism, not AS alone.[96]

The popularization of the Internet has allowed individuals with AS to communicate and celebrate with each other in a way that was not previously possible due to the rarity and the geographic dispersal of individuals with AS. As a result of increasing ability to connect with one another, a subculture of "Aspies" has formed. Internet sites like Wrong Planet have made it easier for individuals to connect with each other.[97]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao McPartland J, Klin A (2006). "Asperger's syndrome". Adolesc Med Clin. 17 (3): 771–88. doi:10.1016/j.admecli.2006.06.010. PMID 17030291.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Baskin JH, Sperber M, Price BH (2006). "Asperger syndrome revisited". Rev Neurol Dis. 3 (1): 1–7. PMID 16596080.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Klin A (2006). "Autism and Asperger syndrome: an overview". Rev Bras Psiquiatr. 28 (Suppl 1): S3–S11. PMID 16791390.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) (July 31 2007). Asperger Syndrome Fact Sheet. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Brasic, JR. Pervasive Developmental Disorder: Asperger Syndrome. eMedicine.com (April 10 2006). Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  6. ^ World Health Organization (2006). "F84. Pervasive developmental disorders". International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (10th ed. (ICD-10) ed.). {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Piven J, Palmer P, Jacobi D, Childress D, Arndt S (1997). "Broader autism phenotype: evidence from a family history study of multiple-incidence autism families" (PDF). Am J Psychiatry. 154 (2): 185–90. PMID 9016266.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Lord C, Cook EH, Leventhal BL, Amaral DG (2000). "Autism spectrum disorders" (PDF). Neuron. 28 (2): 355–63. doi:10.1016/S0896-6273(00)00115-X. PMID 11144346.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ a b c d e American Psychiatric Association (2000). "Diagnostic criteria for 299.80 Asperger's Disorder (AD)". Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text revision (DSM-IV-TR) ed.). ISBN 0890420254. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Schopler E, Mesibov GB, Kunce LJ (eds) (1998). Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism?. Springer. ISBN 0306457466. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ a b Kasari C, Rotheram-Fuller E (2005). "Current trends in psychological research on children with high-functioning autism and Asperger disorder". Curr Opin Psychiatry. 18 (5): 497–501. doi:10.1097/01.yco.0000179486.47144.61. PMID 16639107.
  12. ^ Szatmari P (2000). "The classification of autism, Asperger's syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder". Can J Psychiatry. 45 (8): 731–38. PMID 11086556.
  13. ^ Wing L, Gould J (1979). "Severe impairments of social interaction and associated abnormalities in children: epidemiology and classification". J Autism Dev Disord. 9 (1): 11–29. doi:10.1007/BF01531288.
  14. ^ South M, Ozonoff S, McMahon WM (2005). "Repetitive behavior profiles in Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism". J Autism Dev Disord. 35 (2): 145–58. doi:10.1007/s10803-004-1992-8. PMID 15909401.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Rapin I (2001). "Autism spectrum disorders: relevance to Tourette syndrome". Adv Neurol. 85: 89–101. PMID 11530449.
  16. ^ Gillberg C, Kadesjö B (2003). "Why bother about clumsiness? The implications of having developmental coordination disorder (DCD)". Neural Plast. 10 (1–2): 59–68. PMID 14640308.
  17. ^ a b c d e Ehlers S, Gillberg C. "The epidemiology of Asperger's syndrome: a total population study." J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1993 Nov;34(8):1327–50. PMID 8294522 Lay summary. Cite error: The named reference "EhlGill" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  18. ^ Weimer AK, Schatz AM, Lincoln A, Ballantyne AO, Trauner DA (2001). ""Motor" impairment in Asperger syndrome: evidence for a deficit in proprioception". Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP. 22 (2): 92–101. PMID 11332785.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) as cited in McPartland J, Klin A (2006), p. 774.
  19. ^ Rogers SJ, Ozonoff S (2005). "Annotation: what do we know about sensory dysfunction in autism? A critical review of the empirical evidence". Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines. 46 (12): 1255–68. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.01431.x. PMID 16313426.
  20. ^ Reitzel J, Szatmari P. "Cognitive and academic problems." In: Prior M, editor. Learning and behavior problems in Asperger syndrome. New York: Guilford Press; 2003. p. 35–54, as cited in McPartland J, Klin A (2006), p. 774.
  21. ^ Klin A, Volkmar FR, Sparrow SS, Cicchetti DV, Rourke BP (1995). "Validity and neuropsychological characterization of Asperger syndrome: convergence with nonverbal learning disabilities syndrome". Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines. 36 (7): 1127–40. PMID 8847376.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) as cited in McPartland J, Klin A (2006), pp. 774–775.
  22. ^ Ghaziuddin M, Mountain-Kimchi K (2004). "Defining the intellectual profile of Asperger Syndrome: comparison with high-functioning autism". Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 34 (3): 279–84. PMID 15264496.; Ehlers S, Nydén A, Gillberg C; et al. (1997). "Asperger syndrome, autism and attention disorders: a comparative study of the cognitive profiles of 120 children". Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines. 38 (2): 207–17. PMID 9232467. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) as cited in McPartland J, Klin A (2006), p. 775.
  23. ^ Klin A, Volkmar FR, Sparrow SS, Cicchetti DV, Rourke BP (1995). "Validity and neuropsychological characterization of Asperger syndrome: convergence with nonverbal learning disabilities syndrome". Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines. 36 (7): 1127–40. PMID 8847376.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) as cited in McPartland J, Klin A (2006), p. 775.
  24. ^ Miller JN, Ozonoff S (2000). "The external validity of Asperger disorder: lack of evidence from the domain of neuropsychology". Journal of abnormal psychology. 109 (2): 227–38. PMID 10895561. as cited in McPartland J, Klin A (2006), p. 775.
  25. ^ Haviland MG, Warren WL, Riggs ML (2000). "An observer scale to measure alexithymia". Psychosomatics. 41 (5): 385–92. PMID 11015624. Retrieved 2007-08-10.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ a b Frith U (2004). "Emanuel Miller lecture: confusions and controversies about Asperger syndrome". Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines. 45 (4): 672–86. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00262.x. PMID 15056300. The study to which Frith refers is Hill E, Berthoz S, Frith U (2004). "Brief report: cognitive processing of own emotions in individuals with autistic spectrum disorder and in their relatives". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 34 (2): 229–235. doi:10.1023/B:JADD.0000022613.41399.14.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ Fitzgerald M, Bellgrove MA (2006). "The overlap between alexithymia and Asperger's syndrome". Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 36 (4): 573–6. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0096-z. PMID 16755385. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  28. ^ Hill E, Berthoz S (2006). "Response to "Letter to the Editor: The Overlap Between Alexithymia and Asperger's syndrome", Fitzgerald and Bellgrove, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(4)". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 36 (8): 1143–1145. doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0287-7. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  29. ^ a b Tani P, Lindberg N, Joukamaa M; et al. (2004). "Asperger syndrome, alexithymia and perception of sleep". Neuropsychobiology. 49 (2): 64–70. doi:10.1159/000076412. PMID 14981336. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ a b c d e Fitzgerald M, Corvin A (2001). "Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Asperger syndrome". Adv Psychiatr Treat. 7 (4): 310–8.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g Mattila ML, Kielinen M, Jussila K; et al. (2007). "An epidemiological and diagnostic study of Asperger syndrome according to four sets of diagnostic criteria". Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 46 (5): 636–46. doi:10.1097/chi.0b013e318033ff42. PMID 17450055. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Robinson J, Woodbury-Smith M (2005). "The Adult Asperger Assessment (AAA): a diagnostic method" (PDF). Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 35 (6): 807–19. doi:10.1007/s10803-005-0026-5. PMID 16331530.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ Mayes SD, Calhoun SL, Crites DL (2001). "Does DSM-IV Asperger's disorder exist?". Journal of abnormal child psychology. 29 (3): 263–71. PMID 11411788.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ Attwood, T (2003). Is There a Difference Between Asperger's Syndrome and High Functioning Autism? (PDF). Sacramento Asperger Syndrome Information & Support. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g Foster B, King BH (2003). "Asperger syndrome: to be or not to be?". Curr. Opin. Pediatr. 15 (5): 491–94. PMID 14508298.
  36. ^ Durand CM, Betancur C, Boeckers TM; et al. (2007). "Mutations in the gene encoding the synaptic scaffolding protein SHANK3 are associated with autism spectrum disorders". Nat. Genet. 39 (1): 25–27. doi:10.1038/ng1933. PMID 17173049. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help); Unknown parameter |laydate= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |laysource= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |laysummary= ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ Wing L, Potter D (2002). "The epidemiology of autistic spectrum disorders: is the prevalence rising?". Mental retardation and developmental disabilities research reviews. 8 (3): 151–61. doi:10.1002/mrdd.10029. PMID 12216059.
  38. ^ Kwon H, Ow AW, Pedatella KE, et al. "Voxel-based morphometry elucidates structural neuroanatomy of high-functioning autism and Asperger syndrome." Dev Med Child Neurol. 2004 Nov;46(11):760–64. PMID 15540637
  39. ^ McAlonan GM, Daly E, Kumari V; et al. (2002). "Brain anatomy and sensorimotor gating in Asperger's syndrome". Brain. 125 (Pt 7): 1594–606. PMID 12077008. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ Jones PB, Kerwin RW (1990). "Left temporal lobe damage in Asperger's syndrome". The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science. 156: 570–2. PMID 2386870.
  41. ^ Ozbayrak KR, Kapucu O, Erdem E, Aras T (1991). "Left occipital hypoperfusion in a case with the Asperger syndrome". Brain Dev. 13 (6): 454–56. PMID 1810164.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ Murphy DG, Daly E, Schmitz N, et al. "Cortical serotonin 5-HT2A receptor binding and social communication in adults with Asperger's syndrome: an in vivo SPECT study." Am J Psychiatry. 2006 May;163(5):934–36. PMID 16648340
  43. ^ Gowen E, Miall RC. "Behavioural aspects of cerebellar function in adults with Asperger syndrome." Cerebellum. 2005;4(4):279–89. PMID 16321884
  44. ^ Schumann CM, Hamstra J, Goodlin-Jones BL, et al. "The amygdala is enlarged in children but not adolescents with autism; the hippocampus is enlarged at all ages." J Neurosci. 2004 14 July;24(28):6392–6401. PMID 15254095
  45. ^ Minshew N, Sweeney J, Bauman M, et al. Neurologic aspects of autism. In: Volkmar F, Paul R, Klin A, et al., eds. Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders, vol 1. 3rd edition. Hoboken (NJ): John Wiley & Sons; 2005. p. 473–514. As cited in, McPartland J, Klin A (2006).
  46. ^ McKelvey JR, Lambert R, Mottron L, Shevell MI (1995). "Right-hemisphere dysfunction in Asperger's syndrome". J. Child Neurol. 10 (4): 310–14. PMID 7594267.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) As cited in McPartland J, Klin A (2006).
  47. ^ Schultz R, Robins D. Functional neuroimaging studies of autism spectrum disorders. In: Volkmar F, Paul R, Klin A, et al, editors. Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders, vol 1. 3rd edition. Hoboken (NJ): John Wiley & Sons; 2005. p. 515–33. As cited in McPartland J, Klin A (2006).
  48. ^ Welchew DE, Ashwin C, Berkouk K; et al. (2005). "Functional disconnectivity of the medial temporal lobe in Asperger's syndrome". Biol. Psychiatry. 57 (9): 991–98. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.01.028. PMID 15860339. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) As cited in McPartland J, Klin A (2006).
  49. ^ Lawson J, Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S. "Empathising and systemising in adults with and without Asperger Syndrome." J Autism Dev Disord. 2004 Jun;34(3):301–10. PMID 15264498
  50. ^ Baron-Cohen S (2002). "The extreme male brain theory of autism". Trends Cogn Sci. 6 (6): 248–54. doi:10.1016/S1364-6613(02)01904-6. PMID 12039606.
  51. ^ Baron-Cohen S (2006). "The hyper-systemizing, assortative mating theory of autism". Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 30 (5): 865–72. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2006.01.010. PMID 16519981.
  52. ^ Baron-Cohen S, Leslie AM, Frith U (1985). "Does the autistic child have a 'theory of mind'?" (PDF). Cognition. 21 (1): 37–46. doi:10.1016/0010-0277(85)90022-8. PMID 2934210. Retrieved 2007-06-28.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  53. ^ Bowler DM (1992). ""Theory of mind" in Asperger's syndrome". Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines. 33 (5): 877–93. PMID 1378848.
  54. ^ Rieffe C, Meerum Terwogt M, Stockmann L (2000). "Understanding atypical emotions among children with autism". Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 30 (3): 195–203. PMID 11055456.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  55. ^ Khouzam HR, El-Gabalawi F, Pirwani N, Priest F (2004). "Asperger's disorder: a review of its diagnosis and treatment". Compr Psychiatry. 45 (3): 184–91. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2004.02.004. PMID 15124148.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  56. ^ a b c Matson JL (2007). "Determining treatment outcome in early intervention programs for autism spectrum disorders: a critical analysis of measurement issues in learning based interventions". Research in developmental disabilities. 28 (2): 207–18. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2005.07.006. PMID 16682171.
  57. ^ Rao PA, Beidel DC, Murray MJ (2007). "Social skills interventions for children with Asperger's syndrome or high-functioning autism: a review and recommendations". J Autism Dev Disord. doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0402-4. PMID 17641962.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  58. ^ Sofronoff K, Leslie A, Brown W (2004). "Parent management training and Asperger syndrome: a randomized controlled trial to evaluate a parent based intervention". Autism : the international journal of research and practice. 8 (3): 301–17. doi:10.1177/1362361304045215. PMID 15358872.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  59. ^ a b Newcomer JW (2007). "Antipsychotic medications: metabolic and cardiovascular risk". The Journal of clinical psychiatry. 68 Suppl 4: 8–13. PMID 17539694.
  60. ^ a b Chavez B, Chavez-Brown M, Sopko MA, Rey JA (2007). "Atypical antipsychotics in children with pervasive developmental disorders". Paediatric drugs. 9 (4): 249–66. PMID 17705564.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  61. ^ Staller J (2006). "The effect of long-term antipsychotic treatment on prolactin". Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology. 16 (3): 317–26. doi:10.1089/cap.2006.16.317. PMID 16768639.
  62. ^ Frémaux T, Reymann JM, Chevreuil C, Bentué-Ferrer D (2007). "[Prescription of olanzapine in children and adolescent psychiatric patients]". L'Encéphale (in French). 33 (2): 188–96. PMID 17675914.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  63. ^ Blacher J, Kraemer B, Schalow M (2003). "Asperger syndrome and high functioning autism: research concerns and emerging foci". Curr Opin Psychiatry. 16 (5): 535–542. doi:10.1097/01.yco.0000087260.35258.64.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  64. ^ Williams, Charmaine C. "In search of an Asperger culture," in Stoddart, Kevin. (Ed.) (2005), p. 246.
  65. ^ Williams (2005), p. 246. Williams writes: "The life prospects of people with AS would change if we shifted from viewing AS as a set of dysfunctions, to viewing it as a set of differences that have merit."
  66. ^ Dakin, Chris J. "Life on the outside: A personal perspective of Asperger syndrome," in Stoddart, Kevin (Ed.) (2005), pp. 352–353.
  67. ^ a b Baron-Cohen, Simon. "Is asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism necessarily a disability?" Development and Psychopathology. 2000 Summer;12(3):489–500. PMID 11014749 Full-text PDF.
  68. ^ Attwood, T (2007). The Complete Guide to Asperger's, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London, UK, p. 12.
  69. ^ Gillberg C (1991). "Outcome in autism and autistic-like conditions". Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 30 (3): 375–82. PMID 2055873.
  70. ^ Green J, Gilchrist A, Burton D, Cox A (2000). "Social and psychiatric functioning in adolescents with Asperger syndrome compared with conduct disorder". Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 30 (4): 279–93. PMID 11039855.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  71. ^ Tantam D. "Asperger's syndrome in adulthood." In: Frith U, editor. Autism and Asperger syndrome. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1991. pp. 147–83.
  72. ^ a b Moran, Mark. Asperger's May Be Answer To Diagnostic Mysteries. Psychiatric News October 6, 2006, Volume 41, Number 19, page 21
  73. ^ Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Skinner R, Martin J, Clubley E (2001). "The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians" (PDF). Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 31 (1): 5–17. PMID 11439754.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Erratum in: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Dec;31(6):603.
  74. ^ Allen D, Evans C, Hider A, Hawkins S, Peckett H, Morgan H (2007). "Offending behaviour in adults with Asperger syndrome". J Autism Dev Disord. doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0442-9. PMID 17805955.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  75. ^ Fombonne E. "Epidemiology of autistic disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders." J Clin Psychiatry. 2005;66 Suppl 10:3–8. PMID 16401144
  76. ^ Fombonne E, Tidmarsh L (2003). "Epidemiologic data on Asperger disorder". Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America. 12 (1): 15–21, v–vi. PMID 12512396.
  77. ^ Leekam S, et al. (2000). Comparison of ICD-10 and Gillberg’s Criteria for Asperger Syndrome. The National Autistic Society, SAGE Publications, 2000.
  78. ^ Ghaziuddin M, Weidmer-Mikhail E, Ghaziuddin N (1998). "Comorbidity of Asperger syndrome: a preliminary report". Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR. 42 ( Pt 4): 279–83. PMID 9786442.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  79. ^ Gillberg C, Billstedt E (2000). "Autism and Asperger syndrome: coexistence with other clinical disorders". Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica. 102 (5): 321–30. PMID 11098802.
  80. ^ Muris P, Steerneman P, Merckelbach H, Holdrinet I, Meesters C (1998). "Comorbid anxiety symptoms in children with pervasive developmental disorders". Journal of anxiety disorders. 12 (4): 387–93. PMID 9699121.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  81. ^ Dasari, Meena (May 24, 2005). "Asperger's Syndrome and Anxiety". NYU Child Study Center. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.
  82. ^ Little L (2002). "Middle-class mothers' perceptions of peer and sibling victimization among children with Asperger's syndrome and nonverbal learning disorders". Issues in comprehensive pediatric nursing. 25 (1): 43–57. PMID 11934121.
  83. ^ Cederlund M, Gillberg C (2004). "One hundred males with Asperger syndrome: a clinical study of background and associated factors". Developmental medicine and child neurology. 46 (10): 652–60. PMID 15473168.
  84. ^ a b c d e f g h i Baron-Cohen S, Klin A (2006). "What's so special about Asperger Syndrome?" (PDF). Brain and cognition. 61 (1): 1–4. doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2006.02.002. PMID 16563588.
  85. ^ Template:De icon Asperger, H. (1944), "Die 'Autistischen Psychopathen' im Kindesalter," Archiv für Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten [Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr], 117:76–136
  86. ^ Asperger, H. (1944), Die 'Autistischen Psychopathen' im Kindesalter, Archiv fur Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten, 117, pp. 76–136.
  87. ^ Kanner, L (1943). "Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact". Nervous Child, 2;217–50.
  88. ^ Ishikawa G, Ichihashi K (2007). "[Autistic psychopathy or pervasive developmental disorder: how has Asperger's syndrome changed in the past sixty years?]". Nippon Rinsho (in Japanese). 65 (3): 409–18. PMID 17354550.
  89. ^ Template:De icon Bosch G (1962). Der frühkindliche Autismus - eine klinische und phänomenologisch-anthropologische. Untersuchung am Leitfaden der Sprache. Berlin: Springer.
  90. ^ Bosch G (1970). Infantile autism – a clinical and phenomenological anthropological investigation taking language as the guide. Berlin: Springer.
  91. ^ Bölte S, Bosch G. "Bosch's Cases: a 40 years follow-up of patients with infantile autism and Asperger syndrome" (PDF). Journal of Psychiatry. Retrieved 2007-08-20.
  92. ^ Wing L (1981). "Asperger's syndrome: a clinical account". Psychological medicine. 11 (1): 115–29. PMID 7208735. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
  93. ^ Willey, LH. Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome. Jessica Kingsley, London, 1999. ISBN 1-85302-749-9
  94. ^ Bringing Children Together. Aspergian Pride. Retrieved 2 July 2006.
  95. ^ Silberman S (December 2001). "The geek syndrome". Wired. Retrieved 2007-09-10.
  96. ^ Baron-Cohen S (2006). "The hyper-systemizing, assortative mating theory of autism". Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 30 (5): 865–72. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2006.01.010. PMID 16519981.
  97. ^ Dekker, Martijn. On our own terms: Emerging autistic culture. AutisticCulture.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-15.

External links

Template:Link FA