Editing Pervasive developmental disorder (section)

==Diagnosis==
Diagnosis is usually made during early childhood. Individuals who received diagnoses based on the DSM-IV maintain their diagnosis under the autism spectrum disorders. However, an editorial published in the October 2012 issue of ''American Journal of Psychiatry'' notes that, while some doctors argue that there is insufficient evidence to support the diagnostic distinction between ASD and PDD, multiple literature reviews found that studies showing significant differences between the two disorders significantly outnumbered those that found no difference.<ref>{{cite web|author=American Psychiatric Publishing|title=Autism Spectrum Disorder|url=http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/Autism%20Spectrum%20Disorder%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf|publisher=American Psychiatric Association|access-date=4 July 2013}}</ref>

The [[World Health Organization]]’s [[International Classification of Diseases]], 10th edition ([[ICD-10]]) categorized PDD into five distinct subtypes, each with their own diagnostic criteria.<ref name=ICD10>{{Cite book|last=World Health Organization|title=The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders : clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines|date=1992|publisher=World Health Organization|isbn=92-4-154422-8|oclc=28294867}}</ref> The five subtypes, [[Classic autism|childhood autism]], [[atypical autism]], [[Rett syndrome]], [[Asperger syndrome]] and [[childhood disintegrative disorder]], are characterized by abnormalities in social interactions and communication.<ref name=ICD10/>

The disorders were primarily diagnosed based on behavioral features, although the presence of any other medical conditions is important, it is not taken into account when making a diagnosis.{{medical citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Before the release of the DSM-5, some clinicians used PDD-NOS as a "temporary" diagnosis for children under the age of five when, for whatever reason, they are reluctant to diagnose autism. There are several justifications for this. Very young children have limited social interaction and communication skills to begin with, so it can be difficult to correctly diagnose milder cases of autism in toddlers. The unspoken assumption is that by the age of five, unusual behaviors will either resolve or develop into diagnosable autism. However, some parents view the PDD label as no more than a euphemism for autism spectrum disorders, while the PDD label makes it more difficult to receive aid for [[early childhood intervention]].{{medical citation needed|date=July 2020}}

===Classification===
The pervasive developmental disorders were:<ref name="NICHCY"/>
* [[Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified]] (PDD-NOS), which includes atypical autism, and is the most common (47% of autism diagnoses);<ref>{{cite web |year=2012 |title= Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 14 Sites, United States, 2008 |author= ((Jon Baio, EdS, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC)) |url=https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6103a1.htm }}</ref>
* Typical [[autism]], the best-known;
* [[Asperger syndrome]] (9% of autism diagnoses);
* [[Rett syndrome]]; and
* [[Childhood disintegrative disorder]] (CDD).
The first three of these disorders are commonly called the [[autism spectrum disorder]]s; the last two disorders are much rarer, and are sometimes placed in the autism spectrum and sometimes not.<ref name="Lord C, Cook EH, Leventhal BL, Amaral DG 2000 355–63"/><ref name="Johnson"/>

In May 2013, the ''[[Diagnostic and Statistical Manual]]–5th Edition'' (''DSM-5'') was released, updating the classification for pervasive developmental disorders. The grouping of disorders, including PDD-NOS, autism, Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, and CDD, has been removed and replaced with the general term of [[autism spectrum disorder]]s (ASDs). The American Psychiatric Association has concluded that using the general diagnosis of ASD supports more accurate diagnoses. The grouping of these disorders into ASD also reflects that autism is characterized by common symptoms and should therefore bear a single diagnostic term. In order to distinguish between the different disorders, the DSM-5 employs severity levels. The severity levels take into account required support, restricted interests and repetitive behaviors, and deficits in social communication.<ref>{{cite web|author=Autism Research Institute|title=DSM-V: What Changes May Mean|url=http://www.autism.com/index.php/news_dsmV|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref>

===PDD and PDD-NOS===
There is a division among doctors on the use of the term PDD.<ref name="NICHCY"/> Many use the term PDD as a short way of saying PDD-NOS.<ref name="NICHCY"/> Others use the general category because the term PDD actually refers to a category of disorders and is not a diagnostic label.<ref name="NICHCY"/>

PDD is not itself a diagnosis, while PDD-NOS is a diagnosis. To further complicate the issue, PDD-NOS can also be referred to as "atypical personality development", "atypical PDD", or "atypical autism".{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}