Definitional creep
Autism and related disorders have been redefined over the past few decades to be much broader in criteria. It is therefore likely that diagnoses have increased simply due to changing criteria (no genuine rise in symptoms).
Research question
Causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Parent topic context
This Topic seeks to examine the causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It also aims to seek causes for a often claimed increase in diagnosis in recent history. The definition for ASD can be found in the DSM-5 but it primarily is defined by: A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts. B. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. C. Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities, or may be masked by learned strategies in later life). D. Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning. E. These disturbances are not better explained by intellectual developmental disorder (intellectual disability) or global developmental delay. Intellectual developmental dis-order and autism spectrum disorder frequently co-occur; to make comorbid diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual developmental disorder, social communication should be below that expected for general developmental level. In this case cause can both cause for increased prevalence or ultimate causes.
Research context
Research group: Etiology. The study of causes of mental diseases and disorders Research subject: Psychology. The scientific study of mind and behavior
Variables
dependent: Diagnosis rate of ASD. independent: Definition of Autism