Pervasive Developmental Disorder, NOS Diagnosis

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV):

A Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified diagnosis should be used when there is a severe a pervasive impairment in the development of reciprocal social interaction or verbal and nonverbal communication skills, or when stereotyped behavior, interest, and activites are present, but the criteria are not met for a specific pervasive developmental disorder, schizophrenia, schizotypal personality disorder, or avoidant personality disorder. For example, this category includes “atypical autism” – presentations that do not meet the criteria for autistic disorder because of late age of onset, atypical symptomatology, or subthreshold symptomatology, or all of these.