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Theories of Autism and Autism Treatment from the DSM III Through the Present and Beyond: Impact on Research and Practice

  • SI: Autism in Review: 1980-2020: 40 years after DSM-III
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Abstract

The purely descriptive definition of autism introduced by the DSM III in 1980 marked a departure from previous DSM editions, which mixed phenomenological descriptions with psychoanalytic theories of etiology. This provided a blank slate upon which a variety of novel theories emerged to conceptualize autism and its treatment in the following four decades. In this article we examine the contribution of these different theoretical orientations with a focus on their impact on research and practice, areas of overlap and conflict between current theories, and their relevance in the context of the evolving landscape of scientific knowledge and societal views of autism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, 3020 Market Street, Suite 560, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Giacomo Vivanti

  2. Departments of Psychology, Pediatrics, Music Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA

    Daniel S. Messinger

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GV conceptualized the original paper. GV and DSM wrote the original draft and made major contributions and changes throughout the process.

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Vivanti, G., Messinger, D.S. Theories of Autism and Autism Treatment from the DSM III Through the Present and Beyond: Impact on Research and Practice. J Autism Dev Disord 51, 4309–4320 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-04887-z

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