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Asperger syndrome

MedGen UID:
68633
•Concept ID:
C0236792
•
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Synonyms: Asperger's disease; Asperger's disorder
SNOMED CT: Asperger's syndrome (23560001); Asperger disorder (23560001); Aspergers disorder (23560001); Asperger's disorder (23560001)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0005259
Orphanet: ORPHA1162

Definition

A disorder most often diagnosed in the pediatric years in which the individual displays marked impairment in social interaction and a repetitive, stereotyped pattern of behavior. The individual, however, displays no delay in language or cognitive development, which differentiates Asperger Syndrome from autism. [from NCI]

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Autism Spectrum Disorder: Primary Care Principles.
Sanchack KE, Thomas CA
Am Fam Physician 2016 Dec 15;94(12):972-979. PMID: 28075089
The investigation and differential diagnosis of Asperger syndrome in adults.
Lehnhardt FG, Gawronski A, Pfeiffer K, Kockler H, Schilbach L, Vogeley K
Dtsch Arztebl Int 2013 Nov 8;110(45):755-63. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2013.0755. PMID: 24290364Free PMC Article
ADHD and autism: differential diagnosis or overlapping traits? A selective review.
Taurines R, Schwenck C, Westerwald E, Sachse M, Siniatchkin M, Freitag C
Atten Defic Hyperact Disord 2012 Sep;4(3):115-39. Epub 2012 Aug 1 doi: 10.1007/s12402-012-0086-2. PMID: 22851255

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Asperger's syndrome: What to consider?
Mirkovic B, Gérardin P
Encephale 2019 Apr;45(2):169-174. Epub 2019 Feb 5 doi: 10.1016/j.encep.2018.11.005. PMID: 30736970
From Kanner to DSM-5: autism as an evolving diagnostic concept.
Volkmar FR, McPartland JC
Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2014;10:193-212. Epub 2013 Dec 9 doi: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032813-153710. PMID: 24329180
The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ)--adolescent version.
Baron-Cohen S, Hoekstra RA, Knickmeyer R, Wheelwright S
J Autism Dev Disord 2006 Apr;36(3):343-50. doi: 10.1007/s10803-006-0073-6. PMID: 16552625
The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians.
Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Skinner R, Martin J, Clubley E
J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Feb;31(1):5-17. doi: 10.1023/a:1005653411471. PMID: 11439754
The "Reading the Mind in the Eyes" Test revised version: a study with normal adults, and adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism.
Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Hill J, Raste Y, Plumb I
J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2001 Feb;42(2):241-51. PMID: 11280420

Diagnosis

Asperger's syndrome: What to consider?
Mirkovic B, Gérardin P
Encephale 2019 Apr;45(2):169-174. Epub 2019 Feb 5 doi: 10.1016/j.encep.2018.11.005. PMID: 30736970
Subtyping the Autism Spectrum Disorder: Comparison of Children with High Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome.
de Giambattista C, Ventura P, Trerotoli P, Margari M, Palumbi R, Margari L
J Autism Dev Disord 2019 Jan;49(1):138-150. doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3689-4. PMID: 30043350Free PMC Article
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Primary Care Principles.
Sanchack KE, Thomas CA
Am Fam Physician 2016 Dec 15;94(12):972-979. PMID: 28075089
The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians.
Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Skinner R, Martin J, Clubley E
J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Feb;31(1):5-17. doi: 10.1023/a:1005653411471. PMID: 11439754
The "Reading the Mind in the Eyes" Test revised version: a study with normal adults, and adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism.
Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Hill J, Raste Y, Plumb I
J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2001 Feb;42(2):241-51. PMID: 11280420

Therapy

Autism and Mind-Body Therapies: A Systematic Review.
Hourston S, Atchley R
J Altern Complement Med 2017 May;23(5):331-339. Epub 2017 Feb 22 doi: 10.1089/acm.2016.0336. PMID: 28437148Free PMC Article
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Primary Care Principles.
Sanchack KE, Thomas CA
Am Fam Physician 2016 Dec 15;94(12):972-979. PMID: 28075089
Asperger's syndrome: diagnosis, comorbidity and therapy.
Tarazi FI, Sahli ZT, Pleskow J, Mousa SA
Expert Rev Neurother 2015 Mar;15(3):281-93. Epub 2015 Feb 6 doi: 10.1586/14737175.2015.1009898. PMID: 25655905
ADHD and autism: differential diagnosis or overlapping traits? A selective review.
Taurines R, Schwenck C, Westerwald E, Sachse M, Siniatchkin M, Freitag C
Atten Defic Hyperact Disord 2012 Sep;4(3):115-39. Epub 2012 Aug 1 doi: 10.1007/s12402-012-0086-2. PMID: 22851255
The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians.
Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Skinner R, Martin J, Clubley E
J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Feb;31(1):5-17. doi: 10.1023/a:1005653411471. PMID: 11439754

Prognosis

Telepsychiatry in Asperger's syndrome.
Clarke CS
Ir J Psychol Med 2018 Dec;35(4):325-328. doi: 10.1017/ipm.2017.19. PMID: 30501669
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Primary Care Principles.
Sanchack KE, Thomas CA
Am Fam Physician 2016 Dec 15;94(12):972-979. PMID: 28075089
Prenatal valproate exposure and risk of autism spectrum disorders and childhood autism.
Christensen J, Grønborg TK, Sørensen MJ, Schendel D, Parner ET, Pedersen LH, Vestergaard M
JAMA 2013 Apr 24;309(16):1696-703. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.2270. PMID: 23613074Free PMC Article
Sex differences in the brain: implications for explaining autism.
Baron-Cohen S, Knickmeyer RC, Belmonte MK
Science 2005 Nov 4;310(5749):819-23. doi: 10.1126/science.1115455. PMID: 16272115
Asperger syndrome: diagnosis and external validity.
Klin A, Volkmar FR
Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am 2003 Jan;12(1):1-13, v. doi: 10.1016/s1056-4993(02)00052-4. PMID: 12512395

Clinical prediction guides

Neuropsychopathology of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Complex Interplay of Genetic, Epigenetic, and Environmental Factors.
Bhandari R, Paliwal JK, Kuhad A
Adv Neurobiol 2020;24:97-141. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-30402-7_4. PMID: 32006358
Sexuality in autism: hypersexual and paraphilic behavior in women and men with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder.
Schöttle D, Briken P, Tüscher O, Turner D
Dialogues Clin Neurosci 2017 Dec;19(4):381-393. doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.4/dschoettle. PMID: 29398933Free PMC Article
Sex differences in the brain: implications for explaining autism.
Baron-Cohen S, Knickmeyer RC, Belmonte MK
Science 2005 Nov 4;310(5749):819-23. doi: 10.1126/science.1115455. PMID: 16272115
The empathy quotient: an investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high functioning autism, and normal sex differences.
Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S
J Autism Dev Disord 2004 Apr;34(2):163-75. doi: 10.1023/b:jadd.0000022607.19833.00. PMID: 15162935
The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians.
Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Skinner R, Martin J, Clubley E
J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Feb;31(1):5-17. doi: 10.1023/a:1005653411471. PMID: 11439754

Recent systematic reviews

A systematic review and meta-analysis of suicidality in autistic and possibly autistic people without co-occurring intellectual disability.
Newell V, Phillips L, Jones C, Townsend E, Richards C, Cassidy S
Mol Autism 2023 Mar 15;14(1):12. doi: 10.1186/s13229-023-00544-7. PMID: 36922899Free PMC Article
Occupational Therapy's efficacy in children with Asperger's syndrome: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Romagnoli G, Leone A, Romagnoli G, Sansoni J, Tofani M, De Santis R, Valente D, Galeoto G
Clin Ter 2019 Sep-Oct;170(5):e382-e387. doi: 10.7417/CT.2019.2164. PMID: 31612197
Autism and Mind-Body Therapies: A Systematic Review.
Hourston S, Atchley R
J Altern Complement Med 2017 May;23(5):331-339. Epub 2017 Feb 22 doi: 10.1089/acm.2016.0336. PMID: 28437148Free PMC Article
Suicidal behaviour in adolescents and young adults with ASD: findings from a systematic review.
Hannon G, Taylor EP
Clin Psychol Rev 2013 Dec;33(8):1197-204. Epub 2013 Oct 15 doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2013.10.003. PMID: 24201088
Recognition and treatment of Asperger syndrome in the community.
Tantam D, Girgis S
Br Med Bull 2009;89:41-62. Epub 2009 Feb 23 doi: 10.1093/bmb/ldp006. PMID: 19240041

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