Overall prognosis of preschool autism spectrum disorder diagnoses

Abstract

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Prognosis). The objectives are as follows: The primary objective of this review is to synthesise the available evidence on the proportion of individuals who have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder at baseline and at follow-up one or more years later. The secondary objectives of this review are to: investigate whether there are differences in the proportions of individuals with autism spectrum disorder who maintain a diagnosis at follow-up dependent on use of the different classification systems (i.e. DSM or ICD criteria) and their revisions; and investigate the proportion of individuals with autism spectrum disorder who maintain diagnosis at fol..