Asperger Syndrome: Historical Context and DSM-5 Reclassification to Autism Spectrum Disorder

Asperger syndrome, first described by Hans Asperger in 1944, was originally listed as a distinct diagnosis in DSM-4 but was incorporated into the broader autism spectrum disorder category in DSM-5. This reclassification reflects growing scientific recognition that autism exists on a spectrum with varying severity levels and associated characteristics, though the change remains a topic of ongoing debate in the autism community.