The Role of Diagnostic Instruments in Dual and Differential Diagnosis in Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifespan

Cory Shulman; Catherine E Rice; Michael J Morrier; Amy Esler

doi:10.1016/j.psc.2020.08.002

The Role of Diagnostic Instruments in Dual and Differential Diagnosis in Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifespan

Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2020 Dec;43(4):605-628. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2020.08.002.

Authors

Cory Shulman¹, Catherine E Rice², Michael J Morrier², Amy Esler³

Affiliations

¹ The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, 91905, Israel. Electronic address: cory.shulman@mail.huji.ac.il.
² Emory Autism Center, 1551 Shoup Court, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Decatur, GA 30033, USA.
³ Division of Clinical Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota 2540 Riverside Ave S., RPB 550, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA.

PMID: 33126998
DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2020.08.002

Abstract

The heterogeneity inherent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) makes the identification and diagnosis of ASD complex. We survey a large number of diagnostic tools, including screeners and tools designed for in-depth assessment. We also discuss the challenges presented by overlapping symptomatology between ASD and other disorders and the need to determine whether a diagnosis of ASD or another diagnosis best explains the individual's symptoms. We conclude with a call to action for the next steps necessary for meeting the diagnostic challenges presented here to improve the diagnostic process and to help understand each individual's particular ASD profile.

Keywords: Autism; Co-occurring conditions; Diagnostic instruments; Differential diagnosis; Dual diagnosis; Lifespan.

Publication types

Review