Methods and measures of behavior in the diagnosis of autism and related disorders

In the past 5 years, diagnostic schemes for autism and related psychiatric disorders have become increasingly sophisticated. However, within these diagnostic frameworks, no specific assessment procedures have been prescribed. On the other hand, work has continued in the development of empirically rooted instruments for the diagnosis and screening of autism and related disorders. The need for diagnostic methods and instruments that incorporate current diagnostic criteria, that use methods specifically aimed at gleaning information about the communicative and social deficits associated with autism, and that differentiate autism from related disorders is discussed. Two new instruments that attempt to fill this need, the Autism Diagnostic Interview and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, are briefly described.