[Two main mistakes in classificatory and clinical function of DSM-IV, in the case of differential diagnosis between Asperger and autistic disorder].
Symptomatic description of what the DSM-IV understands for Asperger's and Autistic Disorder was analyzed. As a result of this revision there was found that a great amount of diagnostic criteria overlap, and lead to the impossibility to make a clear differential diagnosis. The classifying function is, thus, criticized. The clinical function of this diagnostic distinction is analyzed through a clinical case. It is shown it's lack of utility when a therapeutic method should be implemented in a case of Autistic Disorder. It is concluded that the statistical value of the results obtained by using this classificatory instrument should be examined due to this lack of distinction. Also, according to the therapeutic approach witch the author makes reference, it is shown that the diagnostic of any both disorders does not modify the general intervention strategy.
Areta
Joaquín E
JE
Centro de Rehabilitación "Vida" para discapacitados mentales adultos. aretajoaquin@yahoo.com.ar
D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans