Brief report: Should Asperger syndrome be excluded from the forthcoming DSM-V?

Abstract

Asperger syndrome (AS) is a pervasive developmental disorder, characterized by social impairments and focused, circumscribed interests and activities in the absence of significant language impairment and cognitive delay. Since its inclusion in the DSM-IV, there has been a dramatic increase in its recognition both in children and adults. Some recent studies suggest that there may be differences between AS and high-functioning autism (HFA) on behavioural, cognitive and neurobiological levels. As the majority of studies so far have generally failed to demonstrate a clear distinction between AS and HFA, some researchers have called for eliminating AS from the forthcoming DSM-V. This paper reports some interesting differences between the conditions on different levels and argues for more experimental studies on AS, modifications of its diagnostic criteria, and for its continued retention in the diagnostic manual.