Autism and pervasive developmental disorders.

Autism and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified represent a complex developmental disability in which clinical signs include language delay, social unrelatedness, and unusual or restricted interests. Gradually a better understanding of these disorders as being neurologically-based developmental disorders with multiple etiologies has replaced the idea of emotional disturbance. Although pervasive developmental disorders are rare, the potentially devastating effects make early recognition by pediatricians imperative. Yet, despite promising treatment advances in education, communication technology, behavior treatments, and pharmacology, the prognosis for these disorders remains guarded.