pervasive developmental disorder

in DSM–IV–TR, any of a class of disorders characterized by severe and widespread impairment in social interaction and verbal or nonverbal communication or by the presence of stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities. These disorders are frequently apparent from an early age; they include Asperger’s disorder, autism, childhood disintegrative disorder, and Rett syndrome. In DSM–5, these disorders have been subsumed under autism spectrum disorder.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

exon

n. a sequence of DNA within a gene that encodes a part or all of the gene’s product or function. Exons are separated by noncoding sequences (see intron).