Early descriptions
The first account of autistic traits is credited to French physician Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard in 1798, through his observations of Victor, the ‘wild boy of Aveyron.’ In 1910, Swiss psychiatrist Paul Eugen Bleuler was the first to use the term “autism” to describe specific symptoms in patients with schizophrenia who showed a marked lack of social connection.
Psychogenic theories
In the early 20th century, prevailing theories about autism were largely psychogenic—that is, they attributed autism to emotional or psychological causes rather than biological or physical ones. These explanations dominated until research began to uncover the biological roots of attention and behavioral disorders. In 1943, Leo Kanner described autism as “the inability of children to relate in an ordinary way to people and situations from the very beginning of life,” attributing its cause to a supposed “lack of maternal warmth.” A year later, in 1944, Hans Asperger identified a milder form of autism marked by high intelligence, difficulties in social interaction, and restricted interests. In the 1950s, Bruno Bettelheim further promoted the idea that parental behavior—particularly that of mothers—was responsible for autism in children.
These psychogenic theories gave rise to various Freudian approaches, some of which remained in use in certain countries until quite recently
Shift Toward Biological Explanations of Autism
The first biological research into autism began in the 1960s with the work of Stella Chess.
In 1964, Bernard Rimland challenged Bruno Bettelheim’s “refrigerator mother” theory and proposed instead that autism had a biological and genetic basis
Pathogenesis
The psychogenic origins of autism spectrum disorders have now been scientifically disproven. Current research on the pathogenesis of autism focuses on genetics, environmental factors, and the possible interaction between the two
For families
No, autism does not have a psychological origin. No, you are not to blame. No, there is no reason for guilt. Yes, you should be the primary point of support and guidance for your loved one with autism spectrum disorder.
Improvements in the Definition and Diagnosis of Autism
In 1952, the DSM-I (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) classified autism as a form of childhood schizophrenia. It wasn’t until 1980 that autism was officially distinguished from schizophrenia, when it was renamed infantile autism in DSM-III. In 1987, diagnostic criteria were revised again, and the definition of infantile autism was broadened under DSM-III-R to become autism spectrum disorders. The clinical definition of autism evolved further in 1994 with the publication of DSM-IV, which expanded diagnostic criteria to include subtypes such as Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger’s Syndrome.
