The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

×
No Access

DSM-III and DSM-III-R diagnoses of autism

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.145.11.1404

The authors examined the reliability, sensitivity, and specificity of DSM-III and DSM-III-R criteria for autism in relation to each other and to clinical diagnoses in 114 children and adults (52 diagnosed by clinicians' best judgment as autistic and 62 as nonautistic but developmentally disordered). They used a standard, structured coding scheme to evaluate each patient. The reliability of specific criteria was generally high. Although DSM-III criteria were highly specific, they were less sensitive; the reverse was true for DSM-III-R. The authors conclude that the diagnostic concept of autism in DSM-III-R appears to have been substantially broadened.

Access content

To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.