Comparing Social Skills in Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder According to the DSM-IV-TR and the DSM-5

Abstract

Criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) changed significantly with the publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) with more symptoms needed to meet criteria for ASD. Several researchers have suggested that this will lead to a significant decrease in prevalence for the disorder. Because social skills have been established as a core symptom since autism was first described, the present study examines differences in social functioning using the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills in Youngsters-II (MESSY-II) among children diagnosed with ASD (ages 3–16 years) using DSM-IV-TR criteria, children diagnosed using the DSM-5, and a control group of typically developing children. In the present study of 205 children and adolescents, significant differences were found between the control group and the ASD groups combined. Differences between the DSM-5 group and the DSM-IV group were not found related to inappropriate social skills, suggesting that those who no longer meet diagnostic criteria for ASD exhibit similar social deficits as those who continue to meet criteria for ASD. Concerning socially appropriate behavior, significantly more impairment was found in the DSM-5 group compared with the DSM-IV group, though both groups evinced severe impairments. The implications of these findings are important. Individuals who no longer meet criteria for ASD have clinically significant social deficits and do not differ significantly from those who continue to meet criteria for ASD. Thus, children no longer meeting ASD criteria continue to need interventions that are effective for treating social deficits in autism.