title: Autism in context 1: Classification, counting and causes.
abstract: This review paper describes our current perspective of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), taking into account past, current and future classification systems and the evolving definitions of ASD. International prevalence rates from 1965 to 2012 are presented and key issues, including whether there is an epidemic of autism and what this means in terms of thinking about possible causes of autism, are discussed. Also discussed is the need for high quality national data collection in Australia and the evidence, and lack of evidence, for the many theoretical causes of ASD. The lack of robust classification of autism along with limited high quality evidence base about its prevalence and possible causes leaves ample space for future discoveries.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woolfenden
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodger
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bartak
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prior
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: behavioural; developmental; international child health