Abstract

Importance of studying heterogeneity in autism

Author(s): Stelios Georgiades, Peter Szatmari ,Michael Boyle

Among child-onset psychiatric disorders, autism is perhaps the most serious, intractable and challenging to address. One of the factors contributing to this challenge is its heterogeneity observed along a spectrum of pathology . The current diagnostic and classification system (DSMâ�?�?�?�?IV) classifies children with autism in one of three subtypes: autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.