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The history of autism

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Abstract.

Autism remains a fascinating condition, perhaps the most prolifically researched of all child psychiatric disorders. Its history yields many lessons: early accounts of possible autism are, with one exception, unclear; the greatest contributions to our understanding have come from individual clinicians and researchers; the concept and definition of the disorder have changed greatly over the years; some ideas once held with conviction, were later proved to be unfounded; and socio-political shifts as well as research findings have radically altered our understanding of the syndrome as well as the care and treatment offered to people with autism.

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  1. 38 Blacket Place, Edinburgh EH9 1RL, UK

    Sula Wolff FRCP, FRCPsych

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Wolff, S. The history of autism. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 13, 201–208 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-004-0363-5

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