"Asperger syndrome" might be removed in ICD-11

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The World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is preparing its newest revision, ICD-11, for publication in 2017 or 2018. Notably, the ICD-11 will combine relevant International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) conditions within each ICD classification to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of each classification.

It appears within the ICD-11 Beta Draft ( http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd ... f437815624 ) that the current ICD-10 F84 classification of "Pervasive developmental disorders" will be renamed "Autism spectrum disorder" and will combine its previous subclassifications (F84.0 "Autistic disorder," F84.2 "Rett's syndrome," F84.3 "Other childhood disintegrative disorder," F84.5 "Asperger's syndrome," F84.8 "Other pervasive developmental disorders," and F84.9 "Pervasive developmental disorder, unspecified") within six new subclassifications based on the inclusion or exclusion of an intellectual-development disorder or impairment of functional language.

So, while it appears that the ICD-11 diagnosis of "Autism spectrum disorder" wouldn't necessarily include the term "Asperger's syndrome," the terms "Asperger syndrome" "Asperger" and "Asperger disorder" are defined as "Narrower Terms" within the description of the (mildest) diagnostic subclassification of "Autism spectrum disorder without disorder of intellectual development and without impairment of functional language." These "Narrower Terms" suggest that diagnosticians might have some range in describing their diagnoses.

Things always change between "beta" and final versions.

The ICD-10 wasn't implemented in many places until October, 2015. This means that the ICD-11 might not be implemented until 2020 or later.

I guess Aspergers, as you stated, might be included as a subtype within a subtype of Autism Spectrum Disorder. I wonder how much difference this would make as far as services are concerned.

I was simply working from the WHO web site ( http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/revision/en/ ) about the ICD-11 release date. But, you are right; it could take longer.


Pending governmental regulations can be created quickly if the alternative means delayed support. I am more concerned with slower-acting educational and professional policies. Still, I suspect that those autism-friendly players who are already out there will act almost as quickly as governmental agencies. Of course, the ICD is more influential outside the United States and Europe, so, I am worried that, in some less-friendly nations, delays will happen.

On the upside, I believe that many autism-advocacy groups will continue to use terms related to Asperger in their names, misson statements, goals and policies. Autists and their families will do the same. The name Asperger isn't going to disappear completely.

But, the most surprising part of the ICD-11 diagnostic term "Autism spectrum disorder" is the inclusion of the word "disorder." Because of U.S. federal law, the word needs to appear in diagnoses if governmental reimbursement is expected. But, other nations differ. If any additional changes are made to the ICD-11 criteria, it might be to allow for an alternate diagnostic name like "Autism spectrum condition" leaving the choice up to each diagnostician and local laws.

I think it will be removed. When I was contacting various places for an assessment in 2013 I always asked about Aspergers but they always replied about ASD assessments. The place I eventually was assessed at says they have stopped diagnosing Aspergers in anticipation of expected changes to the ICD (though my report uses aspergers as an informal term).

Wow, so the integration has already started. Yeah, my own written diagnostic assessment hinted at Asperger. That is good enough for me, but it would be cool to be diagnosed with it. Asperger was an amazing man.

Yeah I would have preferred and 'aspergers' diagnosis myself, but can understand that if aspergers was starting to look less distinct from the rest of the spectrum why they changed it. I imagine it will stay around as a descriptive term though

Aspergers will never go away.

I agree.

As a category, it was added to the ICD in 1992.

I did not see anything in the beta suggesting using "Autism Spectrum Disorder without cognative and language impairments"

As far as "Aspergers" or "Aspie" are concerned assuming we do not blow ourselves completly up with the internet available to take us back to any era immediatly the terms will never completly go away. Assuming it is out as an official diagnosis permantly I do believe they will gradually fade away or be repurposed as our generation that was diagnosed with Aspergers dies off. Will it be like "feeble minded" and "manic depression" , "negros" almost completly historical footnotes, "idiot" still widely used but the original meaning has been almost completely lost (does anyone who was not around in the '60's and 70's know "bread" was at one time a synonym for money?) , "ret*d" similar to "idiot" but shunned, or "groovy" which still has its original meaning but rarely used?

Aspergers Syndrome IS off the list in the sense, that it is part of the mass-definition "autism spectrum disorder", but, like Kraftiekortie says: "Aspergers won´t go away" - and specialists happily go on using the term.

So, they're basically doing the same thing they did with the DSM V. I say it's about time.

I'm diagnosed with 'autism spectrum disorder' but I also acknowledge it as 'aspergers syndrome', I also know it as my internal 'sky' though cause it shifts and tints and looks different every hour.

Yes, so am I.
Formally dxéd with ASD - and named "asperger" by same psychologist.

Hehe. This is beginning to show that many diagnosticians continue to use the "Asperger" descriptor unofficially despite what the diagnostic criteria says. I wonder if they realize that many people prefer that descriptor.