DSM-V and Autism: what do the changes mean?

The fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders was recently released.

Among the changes in the new edition is that the separate diagnostic labels of Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, and Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified have been replace by one umbrella term – Autism Spectrum Disorder.

At the Fall 2012 Autism Research Institute Conference, Pamela Compart, M.D. spoke about what the changes may mean to individuals and families living with Autism: watch the video of Dr. Compart’s presentation.