[Autism Spectrum Disorder and DSM-5: Spectrum or Cluster?].
Within the new DSM-5, the currently differentiated subgroups of "Autistic Disorder" (299.0), "Asperger's Disorder" (299.80) and "Pervasive Developmental Disorder" (299.80) are replaced by the more general "Autism Spectrum Disorder". With regard to a patient-oriented and expedient advising therapy planning, however, the issue of an empirically reproducible and clinically feasible differentiation into subgroups must still be raised. Based on two Autism-rating-scales (ASDS and FSK), an exploratory two-step cluster analysis was conducted with N=103 children (age: 5-18) seen in our social-pediatric health care centre to examine potentially autistic symptoms. In the two-cluster solution of both rating scales, mainly the problems in social communication grouped the children into a cluster "with communication problems" (51 % and 41 %), and a cluster "without communication problems". Within the three-cluster solution of the ASDS, sensory hypersensitivity, cleaving to routines and social-communicative problems generated an "autistic" subgroup (22%). The children of the second cluster ("communication problems", 35%) were only described by social-communicative problems, and the third group did not show any problems (38%). In the three-cluster solution of the FSK, the "autistic cluster" of the two-cluster solution differentiated in a subgroup with mainly social-communicative problems (cluster 1) and a second subgroup described by restrictive, repetitive behavior. The different cluster solutions will be discussed with a view to the new DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, for following studies a further specification of some of the ASDS and FSK items could be helpful.
Klinik fur Kinderneurologie und Sozialpadiatrie, Kinderzentrum, Knittlinger Steige 21, 75433 Maulbronn;
Xaver
X
Kienle
Klinik fur Kinderneurologie und Sozialpadiatrie, Kinderzentrum Maulbronn.
Verena
V
Freiberger
Klinik fur Kinderneurologie und Sozialpadiatrie, Kinderzentrum Maulbronn.
Heide
H
Greulich
Klinik fur Kinderneurologie und Sozialpadiatrie, Kinderzentrum Maulbronn.
Rainer
R
Blank
D000293:Adolescent; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012917:Social Adjustment
Asperger’s Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autismus-Spektrums-Storung ,Asperger-Syndrom; Clusternanalyse; DSM-5; cluster analysis