Asperger’s syndrome was added to the psychiatric disease classifications in DSM-IV (1994), and removed from DSM-5 (2013) almost 20 years later. This is a short life for a psychiatric syndrome. This chapter examines the case in depth in order to see what can be learned from it about appropriate criteria for making changes in the DSM nosology. Scientific criteria, clinical considerations, and patient/family perspectives are considered. In general, I recommend broadening the criteria to include the impact on patient self-understanding and identity.
