Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Not Otherwise Specified)

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Description

Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Not Otherwise Specified) is a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Also known as PDD (NOS) or atypical autism, it is used to describe people who don’t fit neatly into one of the specific kinds of Autism Spectrum Disorder, such as Autism or Asperger syndrome

It should not be confused with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). This is the generic name for all forms of Pervasive Developmental Disorders, more commonly known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Diagnosis

Children with PDD either

do not fully meet the criteria of symptoms used to diagnose any of the four specific types of ASD and/or
do not have the degree of impairment described in any of the four specific types of ASD.

According to the DSM-IV, this category should be used ‘when there is a severe and pervasive impairment in the development of social interaction or verbal and nonverbal communication skills, or when stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities are present, but the criteria are not met for a specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder (i.e. other form of ASD), Schizophrenia, Schizotypal Personality Disorder, or Avoidant Personality Disorder.’

Issues

Agitation Anger/Aggression Anxiety Attention/Concentration Attitudes towards Autism Bowel and Bladder Problems Bullying Catatonia Central Coherence Challenging/Disruptive Behaviour Communication Daily Living Skills Depression Destructive Behaviour Diet and Nutrition Eating and Drinking Executive Function Gastro-Intestinal Problems Hearing/Sound perception Hyperactivity Imagination Impact on Family Impaired Immunity Impulsivity Inclusion and Exclusion Intellectual Ability Irritability Joint Attention Loneliness Memory Mental Health Motor Skills Obsessive Compulsions Pain Threshold Perception Play Abilities Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours Self Injurious Behaviour Sensory Sensitivity Sleep Social Skills Tantrums Theory of Mind Uneven Development/Regression Vision

Prognosis

Individuals with PDD vary enormously but most will find it hard to cope with other people, to work or to function independently. Realistically, some can be expected to continue to need some degree of assistance as adults. In severe form the condition may require intensive, specialised, life long care and support. Without timely and informed help and support there can be potentially devastating consequences for people with PDD and those around them.

Research

Allen DA et al. (2001). Autistic disorder versus other pervasive developmental disorders in young children: same or different? Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 10(1), pp. 67-78. Read Abstract

Bishop D.V.M. (1989). Autism, Asperger’s syndrome and semantic-pragmatic disorder: Where are the boundaries? British Journal of Disorders of Communication, 24, pp. 107-121. Read Full item

Buitelaar JK, van der Gaag RJ. (1998)/ Diagnostic rules for children with PDD-NOS and multiple complex developmental disorder. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 39(6), 911-919. Read Abstract

Buitelaar JK et al. (1999). Exploring the boundaries of pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified: analyses of data from the DSM-IV Autistic Disorder Field Trial. J Autism Dev Disord, 29(1), pp. 33-43. Read Abstract

Cascio RS, Kilmon CA. (1997). Pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified: primary care perspectives. Nurse Pract, 22(7), pp.11, 15-6, 18. Read Abstract

Chawarska K et al.(2007). Parental recognition of developmental problems in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord, 37(1), pp. 62-72. Read Abstract

Dawson G. (1996). What is PDDNOS and how is it diagnosed? Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. J Autism Dev Disord, 26(5), pp. 581-582.

de Bruin EI et al. (2007). Multiple Complex Developmental Disorder Delineated from PDD-NOS. J Autism Dev Disord, 37(6) pp. 1181-1191. Read Abstract

de Bruin EI, Verheij F, Ferdinand RF. (2006). WISC-R subtest but no overall VIQ-PIQ difference in Dutch children with PDD-NOS. J Abnorm Child Psychol, 34(2), pp. 263-271. Read Abstract

Fitzgerald M. PDD-NOS. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 38(3), p.229.

Jansen LM et al. (2003). Differentiation between autism and multiple complex developmental disorder in response to psychosocial stress. Neuropsychopharmacology, 28(3), pp. 582-590. Read Abstract

Jensen VK, Larrieu JA, Mack KK. (1997). Differential diagnosis between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and pervasive developmental disorder—not otherwise specified. Clin Pediatr (Phila), 36(10), pp. 555-561. Read Abstract

Luteijn EF et al. (2000). How unspecified are disorders of children with a pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified? A study of social problems in children with PDD-NOS and ADHD. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 9(3), pp.168-179. Read Abstract

Matson, J.L. et al. (2008). PDD-NOS symptoms in adults with intellectual disability: Toward an empirically oriented diagnostic model. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(3), pp. 530-537. Read Abstract

Mayes L et al. (1993). Differentiating pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified from autism and language disorders. J Autism Dev Disord, 23(1), pp. 79-90. Read Abstract

Mesibov GB. (1997). What is PDD-NOS and how is it diagnosed? J Autism Dev Disord, 27(4), pp. 497-498.

Roeyers, H., Buysse, A. and Keymeulen, H. (1998). Differentiating Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder from Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 31(6), pp. 565-571. Read Abstract

Scheirs G., Timmers E. (Epub ahead of print). Differentiating among children with PDD-NOS, ADHD, and those with a combined diagnosis on the basis of WISC-III profiles. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Read Abstract

Towbin K.E. (1994). Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified: A review and guidelines for clinical care. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinics of North America, 3(1), pp. 149-161.

van der Gaag RJ et al. (2005). A controlled study of formal thought disorder in children with autism and multiple complex developmental disorders. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol, 15(3), pp. 465-476. Read Abstract

Volkmar, F.R., Shaffer, D. and First, M. (2000). PPDNOS in DSM-IV. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(1), pp. 74-75.

Walker DR et al. (2004). Specifying PDD-NOS: a comparison of PDD-NOS, Asperger syndrome, and autism. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 43(2) pp. 172-80. Read Abstract

Reading

National Autistic Society. (200?). What is PDD and how does it relate to autism? London: NAS. Read Full item

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (2003). Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Washington, DC:NICHCY. Read Full item

Towbin, K.E. Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. In Volkmar, F.R. et al. (2005). Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders. London: Wiley. (Third edition, 2 volumes.)

Gutstein S., Burgess A.F., Montfort K.(2007). Evaluation of the Relationship Development Intervention program. Autism. 11(5), pp. 397-411. Read Abstract (New Window)

Interventions

There is no cure for PDD (NOS) but there are some interventions which can help decrease the symptoms. There are also some interventions which can help with related problems, such as anxiety or self harm.

Please click on the links below to find out more about specific interventions for people with PDD (NOS) we have evaluated/are in the process of evaluating.

You may also like to look at the much bigger alphabetic list of interventions. Please note: Many of the interventions on this list have yet to be studied scientifically

You may also like to look at a list of intervention research studies published in peer reviewed journals which include individuals with PDD (NOS). Please note:The fact that an intervention is on this list does not necessarily mean that it has been proven to be effective for individuals with PDD (NOS).

Advocacy / Self Advocacy Animal Therapies Anti-Convulsants Anti-Depressants Anti-Fungal Drugs and Supplements Anti-Psychotics Applied Behavioural Analysis Aripiprazole Art and Art Therapy Assistance Dogs Atomoxetine Auditory Integration Training Carbamazepine Chelation Chiropractic Citalopram Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Coloured Filters Computer Applications Daily Life Therapy Dietary Supplements DIR Method Discrete Trial Training DMG Dolphin Therapy Drama Therapy Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention Facilitated Communication Feingold Diet Fluoxetine Functional Communication Training Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet Haloperidol Immune Globulin Incidental Teaching Joint Action Routines Ketogenic Diet LEAP Lightwave Stimulation Melatonin Methylphenidate Milieu Training Mirtazapine Multi-Vitamin and Mineral Supplements Music Therapy Occupational Therapy Olanzapine Online Communities Opioid Antagonists Oxytocin Paroxetine Patterning Therapies Physiotherapy Picture Exchange Communication System Pivotal Response Training Play Therapy Relationship Development Intervention Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy Risperidone SCERTS Model Secretin Sensory Integrative Therapy Sertraline Short Breaks Sign Language Social Groups Social Stories™Sodium Valproate Son-Rise™ Programme Special Diets Specific Carbohydrate Diet Speech and Language Therapy Stimulant Medication Supported Employment TEACCH Testosterone Regulation Theory of Mind Training Topiramate Video Modelling Visual Schedule Vitamin A Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)Vitamin B6 and Magnesium Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)Vitamin D Voice Output Communication Aids Weighted Items Yeast-Free Diets Ziprasidone

Keywords

Developmental Disorder Disorders Not Otherwise PDD Pervasive Specified

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Last Updated : 11/12/2009 Back to Top

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