1. ASPERGER ’ s syndrome MILEN SANTIAGO RAMOS Practitioner in Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience

4. Asperger's disorder is named for a Viennese physician, Hans Asperger , who published a paper describing it in 1944. Dr. Asperger called the condition “autistic psychopathy” and described it as a personality disorder primarily marked by social isolation

9. Asperger syndrome (AS) is a developmental disorder that is characterized by: limited interests or an unusual preoccupation with a particular subject to the exclusion of other activities repetitive routines or rituals peculiarities in speech and language, such as speaking in an overly formal manner or in a monotone, or taking figures of speech literally socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior and the inability to interact successfully with peers problems with non-verbal communication, including the restricted use of gestures, limited or inappropriate facial expressions, or a peculiar, stiff gaze clumsy and uncoordinated motor movements

11. AS is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), one of a distinct group of neurological conditions characterized by a greater or lesser degree of impairment in language and communication skills , as well as repetitive or restrictive patterns of thought and behavior. Other ASDs include: classic autism, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS).

24. Pervasive Developmental Disorders F84.9 Pervasive developmental disorders, unspecified 299.80 Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) (including Atypical Autism) F84.8 Other pervasive developmental disorders F84.5 Asperger’s Syndrome 299.80 Asperger’s Disorder F84.4 Overactive disorder associated with mental retardation and stereotyped movements F84.3 Childhood Disintegrative Disorder 299.10 Childhood Disintegrative Disorder F84.2 Rett’s Syndrome 299.80 Rett’s Disorder F84.1 Atypical Autism F84.0 Childhood Autism 299.00 Autistic Disorder ICD-10 DSM-IV

35. Gillberg's criteria for Asperger syndrome

38. DAMP, MBD, and ADHD

39. In the 1970 s, Gillberg played a leading role in developing the concept Deficits in Attention, Motor control and Perception (DAMP), a concept primarily used in Scandinavia . The DAMP concept as used in more recent publications, refers to Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in combination with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).

40. According to Gillberg, it constitutes a "subgroup of the diagnostic category of ADHD, conceptually similar - but not clinically identical - to the WHO concept of HKD (hyperkinetic disorder)" and is diagnosed on the basis of "concomitant attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and developmental coordination disorder in children who do not have severe learning disability or cerebral palsy

41. Some scholars disagree with the lumping of ADHD and DCD, with the argument that they are unrelated. Gillberg stated in 2003 that, although he feels that there is a "very real issue of how to deal with the conflict between splitting (ADHD plus developmental coordination disorder (DCD)) and lumping (DAMP)," he nevertheless feels that "the DAMP construct has been helpful in identifying a group of children with ADHD and multiple needs that will not be self evident if the diagnosis is just ADHD or just DCD."

42. Before the Scandinavian studies, recognition that individuals with attention problems may also have difficulties with movement, perception, and memory had received little attention in studiesAccording to various studies, half of the children with ADHD also have DCD

43. With the development of the ADHD concept , the previous, less precise, category of Minimal Brain Dysfunction (MBD ), "a term almost universally employed in child psychiatry and developmental paediatrics from the 1950s to the early 1980s was replaced

44. Gillberg began to study DAMP in the late 1970s, when ADHD was still called MBD and the DAMP concept has been adjusted as the term ADHD was introduced and became internationally used

45. Around 1990, DAMP had become a generally accepted diagnostic concept in two Nordic countries but when the DSM-IV appeared in 1994, DAMP became considered a redundant term in many countries, since DAMP is essentially equivalent to ADHD in combination with DCD as defined by DSM-IV

46. Gillberg's four criteria for DAMP are: ADHD as defined in DSM-IV ; Developmental Coordination Disorder as defined in DSM-IV; Condition not better accounted for by cerebral palsy; IQ higher than about 50 [Gillberg , 2003:

47. According to Gillberg, clinically severe form DAMP (or ADHD+DCD) affects about 1.5% of the general population of school age children ; another few per cent are affected by more moderate variants. Boys are overrepresented ; girls are currently probably underdiagnosed.

48. There are many overlapping conditions, including conduct disorder, depression/anxiety, and academic failure. There is a strong link with autism spectrum disorders in severe DAMP

49. Familial factors and pre- and perinatal risk factors account for much of the variance.

50. Psychosocial risk factors appear to increase the risk of marked psychiatric abnormality in DAMP

51. Outcome in early adult age was psychosocially poor in one study in almost 60% of unmedicated cases .

52. About half of all cases with ADHD have DCD, and conversely, ADHD occurs in about half of all cases of DCD . Gillberg has published around 80 papers on DAMP, ADHD and related conditions

69. CLINICAL CASES CASE 1

71. Gary McKinnon

85. CASE 2

86. ANECDOTAL ACCOUNTS OF EFFECTS OF ASPERGER’S SYNDROME ON LIBIDO

87. 1. August 29, 2006 8:38 AM » Aprilf00l1 - Can Asperger's have a negative affect on the male libido? I believe that Asperger's Syndrome is the cause of my husbands low libido. For years I have felt the problem was me. The recent diagnosis of Autism for our 4 year old has brought up the question of Asperger's. My husband and some of his immediate family fit the criteria or symptoms of Asperger's. I'm just looking for information or maybe someone who has had a similar experience.

88. 2. September 22, 2006 10:56 AM » Rachel43 - Can Asperger's have a negative affect on the male libido? In response to Can Asperger's have a negative affect on the male libido? posted by Aprilf00l1 : Hi there. My partner has Aspergers (even though he won't admit it) and he, also, has an extremely low sex drive. Sex is 99 per cent of the time initiated by myself, and it is never what I would call exciting. He is never tender and loving with me during sex, he never caresses me, he just gets on with the job and as soon as he has finished he just gets off the bed and goes and makes a cup of tea and carries on with the conversation we were having earlier on. Absolutely NO intimacy, tenderness or loving here either!!! And if, by chance, I try to give him a kiss or cuddle any other time of the day, he practically runs away from me!! And by the way, I am an attractive woman with a good figure. I have just learned to accept it. Hope this helps you.

89. 3. September 22, 2006 6:24 PM » tc6305 - Can Asperger's have a negative affect on the male libido? In response to Can Asperger's have a negative affect on the male libido? posted by Rachel43 : Great post! I think the same may apply to women with Asperger's. I could cut/paste your post regarding my partner: - She intiates about 1% - Never what I would call exciting - Never tender and loving - Never Caresses - Get the job done, efficiently - NO emotional intimacy - Practically runs from contact

90. 4. October 1, 2006 11:53 PM » ginger30 - Can Asperger's have a negative affect on the male libido? In response to Can Asperger's have a negative affect on the male libido? posted by Rachel43 : I am the very same way. My husband is very sexaul and I would describe myself as asexual. I am also asperger. I don't kiss or hug him either. I have no interest in physical touch. I have come to realize that physical touch is a *NEED* for typical people. yet it has no meaning to me. It is hard on our relationship. It is hard on him. And it is hard on me being in a world where

91. 4. October 1, 2006 11:53 PM » ginger30 - Can Asperger's have a negative affect on the male libido? In response to Can Asperger's have a negative affect on the male libido? posted by Rachel43 : I am the very same way. My husband is very sexaul and I would describe myself as asexual. I am also asperger. I don't kiss or hug him either. I have no interest in physical touch. I have come to realize that physical touch is a *NEED* for typical people. yet it has no meaning to me. It is hard on our relationship. It is hard on him. And it is hard on me being in a world where

102. SALAMAT PO