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The History of Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics

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Abstract

Although Autism (more recently, Autism Spectrum Disorder; ASD) has been characterized as a distinct condition only since the 1940s, individuals with features of ASD are found within historical texts, as well as oral histories across regions and cultures. These core features have persisted throughout the evolution of our understanding of the condition. In a medical model, autism was first conceptualized in the early twentieth century within the field of childhood psychosis/schizophrenia, which was itself understood within a framework of psychoanalytical theory. Therein researchers and clinicians attributed children’s behaviour to unconscious thought and explored the effect of family and the environment on behaviour. Gradually, ASD was identified as a unique entity among developmental–behavioural presentations, as clinicians stratified children based on age of onset, acuity of presentation and social and family history. In the 1960s–70s, researchers classified children by clusters of quantifiable and observable behaviours, establishing an evidence-informed understanding of ASD. Since the 1980s, clinicians and researchers have explored biologic associations, such as seizure disorders and differences in brain structure and function. The effects of genetic and environmental influences on ASD have been investigated, and this cumulative knowledge has led to our current view of ASD as a neurobiologic condition. Additionally, parent and Autistic advocates have enriched our knowledge of ASD, and its intersection with individual experiences as well as societal systems.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Autos. 2020. In Merriam-Webster.com”. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aut-#etymology

  2. 2.

    Ism. 2020. In Merriam-Webster.com”.. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ism

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatrics, Vancouver Island Children’s Assessment Network, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Alexandra Jackman

  2. Pediatrics, Stollery Children’s Hospital, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Lonnie Zwaigenbaum

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  1. Alexandra Jackman
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  2. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum
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Correspondence to Alexandra Jackman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    David D. Eisenstat

  2. Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Dan Goldowitz

  3. Department of Pediatrics and School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Tim F. Oberlander

  4. Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Jerome Y. Yager

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Jackman, A., Zwaigenbaum, L. (2023). The History of Autism Spectrum Disorder. In: Eisenstat, D.D., Goldowitz, D., Oberlander, T.F., Yager, J.Y. (eds) Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20792-1_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20792-1_12

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