A comparison of social skills in adults with autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, and mental retardation

We examined the social skills of adults with autism, PDDNOS, and mental ret ardation. All participants were diagnosed with profound mental retardation. Participants in the autism and PDDNOS groups had been previously diagnosed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and record review. These di agnoses were confirmed by readministering the CARS by one author and an ind ependent rater. Social skills were assessed by using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales and the Matson, Evaluation of Social Skills in the Severely Retarded. Significant-differences between the autism and mental retardatio n groups were found on both measures. The PDDNOS group demonstrated better positive nonverbal social skills than the autism group but not the mental r etardation group. Special treatment needs of institutionalized adults with autism appear warranted along with a need to clarify further the difference s between PDDNOS and mental retardation.