An epidemiological and diagnostic study of Asperger syndrome according to four sets of diagnostic criteria.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the diagnostic process and prevalence rates of Asperger syndrome (AS) according to the DSM-IV, ICD-10, and criteria developed by Gillberg and Gillberg and by Szatmari and colleagues and clarified confusion about AS.


METHODS
An epidemiological study of 5,484 eight-year-old children in Finland, 4,422 (80.6%) of whom rated on the high-functioning Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire by parents and/or teacher, 125 of them screened and 110 examined by using structured interview, semistructured observation, IQ measurement, school day observation, and patient records. Diagnoses were performed by following the DSM-IV, ICD-10, and criteria developed by Gillberg and Gillberg and by Szatmari and colleagues in detail.


RESULTS
The prevalence rates per 1,000 were 2.5 according to the DSM-IV, 2.9 to ICD-10, 2.7 to Gillberg and Gillberg's criteria, and 1.6 to the criteria of Szatmari et al.


CONCLUSIONS
The results emphasize the need to reconsider the diagnostic criteria of AS. The importance of multi-informant sources came up, and the need of several informants was highlighted, especially when diagnosing the broader pervasive developmental disorders.
Mattila
Marja-Leena
ML
All of the authors are with the Clinic of Child Psychiatry, University and University Hospital of Oulu, Finland, with the exception of Mr. Bloigu, who is with the Medical Faculty, University of Oulu, Finland. Electronic address: marja-leena.mattila@fimnet.fi.
Kielinen
Marko
M
All of the authors are with the Clinic of Child Psychiatry, University and University Hospital of Oulu, Finland, with the exception of Mr. Bloigu, who is with the Medical Faculty, University of Oulu, Finland.
Jussila
Katja
K
All of the authors are with the Clinic of Child Psychiatry, University and University Hospital of Oulu, Finland, with the exception of Mr. Bloigu, who is with the Medical Faculty, University of Oulu, Finland.
Linna
Sirkka-Liisa
SL
All of the authors are with the Clinic of Child Psychiatry, University and University Hospital of Oulu, Finland, with the exception of Mr. Bloigu, who is with the Medical Faculty, University of Oulu, Finland.
Bloigu
Risto
R
All of the authors are with the Clinic of Child Psychiatry, University and University Hospital of Oulu, Finland, with the exception of Mr. Bloigu, who is with the Medical Faculty, University of Oulu, Finland.
Ebeling
Hanna
H
All of the authors are with the Clinic of Child Psychiatry, University and University Hospital of Oulu, Finland, with the exception of Mr. Bloigu, who is with the Medical Faculty, University of Oulu, Finland.
Moilanen
Irma
I
All of the authors are with the Clinic of Child Psychiatry, University and University Hospital of Oulu, Finland, with the exception of Mr. Bloigu, who is with the Medical Faculty, University of Oulu, Finland.
D000293:Adolescent; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires