The autistic spectrum: subgroups, boundaries, and treatment

Consensus exists about the disorders that comprise the autistic spectrum with autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified as the most typical examples and Rett's disorder and disintegrative disorder as the other components. Important controversies regarding the precise definitions of autistic spectrum disorders and the boundaries between the milder manifestations of those disorders and non-autistic conditions cannot be resolved fully as long as there is no known biologic cause or consistent biologic or psychological marker. The highest long-term priority in the area of definite diagnosis is the search for biologic marker(s) for autism and related autism spectrum disorders.