[Similarities and differences between the behavior of Asperger's syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder]

Asperger's syndrome (AS) is one of subcategories of pervasive developmental disorder defined by behavioral symptoms. These symptoms include repetitive and stereotyped patterns similar to the behavior of obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD). These are included by a broader concept newly named as obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. While there may be biological bases common to the repetitive behaviors of PDD and OCD, differential diagnosis is important from the clinical point of view. Most of the obsession-like and compulsion-like behaviors of the former lack ego-dystonic features. Moreover, AS has no clinically significant delay in language in definition, but has pragmatic disorder, which should not be seen in OCD.