Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)

- PDD-NOS

A diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) is made when there is a severe and pervasive impairment in the development of reciprocal 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, 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 at onset, atypical symptomatology, or subthreshold symptomatology, or all of these.