Asperger syndrome

Definition

Asperger's disorder

[Asperger's disorder] See also autism. Synonym: Asperger syndrome. Official name according to DSM-IV. Belongs to PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder) according to DSM-IV. Disorder placed in the "autistic spectrum". Disorder named after Hans Asperger, psychiatrist and pediatrician who called this disorder originally "Autistic psychopathy" (1944). Research seems to show that the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) is strongly connected with autism. People with autistic spectrum disorders also seem to have a significantly higher concentration of glutamate/glutamine and creatine/phosphocreatine in the amygdala-hippocampal region. This does not prove "Asperger's disorder" is a disease or disorder, it proves those people are different *

Diagnostic criteria for Asperger's Disorder DSM-IV (summarized)
A. Limited social interaction,  two of the following:
1. impairments in nonverbal behaviors
2. limited social contacts
3. limited spontaneous interaction people
4. limited social or emotional interaction
B. Repetitive, stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, one of the following:
1. preoccupation abnormal interest either in intensity or focus
2. inflexible to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
3. stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms
C. Significant impairment social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
D. No clinically significant general delay in language
E. No clinically significant delay in cognitive, self-help skills, adaptive behavior and curiosity about the environment in childhood
F. No criteria for another Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia

The ICD-10, (WHO, 1992) made one different criteria different from E.:
 A lack of any clinically significant general delay in language or cognitive development.

This symptom associates the DSM-IV with the autistic disorder. This means there is no definitive agreement in psychiatric diagnostics about the real nature of Asperger syndrome. 

Asperger Syndrome

[Asperger Syndrome] Named after Hans Asperger. Synonym: Asperger's disorder. 

High functioning autism

[High functioning autism \ High-functioning autism \ Highfunctioning autism \ HFA] The term is used for people with similar symptoms as Asperger's disorder but the definition is uncertain. DSM-III-R and ICD-10 mention the disorder. Simon Baron-Cohen considers if an individual with autism has an IQ in the normal range (or above) as having High functioning autism and if not, having a language delay, Asperger *

* Is Asperger’s syndrome/High-Functioning Autism necessarily a disability?  Simon Baron-Cohen; Departments of Experimental Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Cambridge

 

For a discussion on the autistic spectrum