Core dimensions of autism spectrum disorders

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests during the early developmental period of childhood. Behaviourally characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, in combination with stereotyped and restricted patterns of behaviour and/or interest, it is currently believed that ASD occurs in approximately 1–2% of individuals. ASD is more prevalent among males than females (4–5:1), but the mechanisms resulting in this discrepancy are still unclear. This chapter will serve as an introduction to ASD, covering the topics of disorder history, prevalence rates, demographics, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, and discussions on current and future diagnostic classification systems. The remaining chapters within Section 4 will then provide detailed discussions on more specific topics related to ASD, including current understandings of treatment planning, prevention and epidemiology, genetics, imaging, and disorder management.

tex.ids: volkmarCoreDimensionsAutism2020a