Autism in DSM-5 under the microscope: Implications to patients, families, clinicians, and researchers

• Four DSM-IV PDD diagnoses are now subsumed by ASD in DSM-5.
• DSM-5 criteria of ASD recognize that communication is part of social processes.
• Sensory aberrations are included as part of ASD diagnostic criteria.
• New specifiers in core symptom severity and functional domains are introduced.
• New diagnosis of SCD is given for persons with social communication deficits only.

The changes in the diagnostic classification of the pervasive developmental disorders from the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) to DSM-5 are expected to affect patients with autism, their families, as well as clinicians and researchers in the field of autism. This article reviews the new DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social Communication Disorder (SCD), and discusses potential consequences in the perspectives of major stakeholders.