Pervasive developmental disorder

Also primary degenerative dementia.

In dsm-iv-tr, this group includes autistic disorder, rett’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, and asperger’s disorder.

The category of pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) includes autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), Asperger’s disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994). PDD is characterized by impairment during the first few years of life in social, affective, communicative, and cognitive development. It is difficult to estimate an overall prevalence rate for the five disorders due to disagreement regarding different diagnosis. For example, there is some research to suggest that autism and PDDNOS are different points on a continuum.

Severe and extensive impairment in social interaction, language skills, and motor skills beginning in childhood. Often some degree of mental retardation accompanies these problems. The exact cause of the disorders is unknown. Often the term pervasive developmental disorder is mistakenly used interchangeably with autism. However, it is a general term referring to autism and several other more rare disorders including Rett syndrome and Asperger disorder. Autism is usually diagnosed within the first 3 years of life. It is characterized by impaired communication, mental retardation, and varying degrees of unusual, aggressive, or self-injurious behavior. In Rett syndrome, girl babies who at first appear normal gradually regress, becoming severely retarded. Asperger disorder is similar to autism except that it does not cause delays in language development.

A synonym for the autism spectrum of disorders, e.g., “classical” autism, Asperger disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder (regressive autism), and Rett syndrome.