Childhood Disintegrative Disorder This rare condition was
described many years before autism (Heller, 1908) but has only
recently been 'officially' recognized. With CDD children develop
autism only after a relatively prolonged period (usually 3 to 4
years) of totally normal development (Volkmar, 1994). This
condition differs from autism in the pattern of onset, course,
and outcome (Volkmar, 1994). Criteria and Clinical Features Both
the DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10 list criteria for this condition. Both
systems describe a regression of some mixture of language,
interest in the social environment, and self-care abilities.
This is often accompanied by a dramatic decline in cognitive
abilities. The period of acute regression may be characterized
by very high levels of anxiety and usually lasts several months.
The ultimate clinical picture is one of severe autism and
intellectual disabilities, i.e., the clinical presentation (but
not the history) is then typical of a child with autism. A
special educator in Vienna, Theod