[Disorders of socialization in children and adolescents]

According to psychiatric classification, problems in effective socialization adjustment are characteristic of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), autism and Asperger syndromes. However, working in a clinic divulges a significantly sizable section of the population that faces problems in social functioning but does not fit either of the two aforementioned psychiatric diagnoses. Over the years a number of informal diagnoses have been developed for this group. The current literature reviews these diagnoses and deals with the question of whether these diagnoses are indeed different or whether they constitute a different viewpoint of the same problem. Some authors claim that the scarcity of current knowledge makes it impossible to provide a proper and precise answer. Therefore, the correct and effective approach is to integrate all the different viewpoints. Such an integrative approach may assist in better understanding the developmental socializing difficulties at a later time. In attempting to characterize the developmental socializing difficulties beyond the mere diagnoses, three major research viewpoints were developed while studying this group: the biological viewpoint, the missing central viewpoint and the behavioral viewpoint.

It is important for the primary treating physician to show vigilance with regard to symptoms of impaired social functioning, especially in children and adolescents.