CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER - RESULTS OF THE DSM-IV AUTISM FIELD TRIAL

Objective: This report is concerned with the classification of childre n in whom an ''autistic-like'' syndrome develops after some years of n ormal development. In DSM-IV the term ''childhood disintegrative disor der'' (CDD) is used to describe such cases. Method: Data collected as part of the international, multisite DSM-IV field trial for autism and related conditions were examined and cases that met DSM-IV criteria f or CDD were identified. Results: In 16 cases the clinician had given a CDD diagnosis; in an additional 10 cases criteria for the condition w ere met even though this diagnosis was not given by the clinician rati ng the case. Conclusions: The available data suggest that CDD cases ca n be differentiated from those with autism; these two groups appear to differ in important ways. The identification of cases of CDD may be o f particular importance for research.