PDD-NOS

Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) is also referred to as“atypical personality development,” “atypical PDD,” or “atypical autism.”

This designation, abbreviated NOS, can be used when the mental disorder appears to fall within the larger category but does not meet the criteria of any specific disorder within that category. The definition of “sub threshold” PDD (PDD-NOS) is essentially a negative one; i.e., for individuals suffering from a disorder with some, but not all, features suggesting autism. Although probably relatively common, research on this condition is, paradoxically, highly limited.

In the present DSM-IV the condition PDD-NOS is very summarily described as follows: “There are serious defects in their social interaction, communication or stereotypical behaviors, interests and activities. The person, however, does not meet the criteria of the autistic disorder or related disorders.”

This description has provoked many discussions among experts, because persons who show disorders in one of three areas mentioned above might may be PDD-NOS classified.

According to experts, this leads to an irresponsible broadening of the notion of PDD-NOS. In the meantime experts have shown that PDD-NOS can be significantly distinguished from other disorders if the rules for classification are accentuated in such a way that at least three to five criteria in the three fields (social interaction, communication and restrictive self-repeating stereotypical patterns of behavior), with at least one being in the field of social interaction, are met.While deficits in peer relations and unusual sensitivities are typically noted, social skills are less impaired than in classical autism.

The lack of definitions for this relatively heterogeneous group of children presents problems for research on this condition.

In the revised DSM-IV-TR, a revision of the 4th edition, published in May 2000, the description has, in spite of rumors circulating, not (yet) been adopted.

PDD-NOS
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