Intellectual Developmental Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder in the WPA Next Triennium Mainstream

Both intellectual developmental disorder (IDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are included in the section of neurodevelopmental disorders of the ICD‐11 and DSM‐5. They represent meta‐syndrom­ic groups including many different clin­ical conditions characterized by cognitive and relational impairment. The guiding syndromic pattern involves maladaptive cognitive impairment in IDD and severe limitation and restriction of complex interpersonal interactions in ASD1. The two conditions often co‐occur, and their differentiation may be difficult, especially in the context of increasing severity of cognitive impairment. About 30‐40% of persons with ID have pervasive features of ASD, and about 80% of persons with ASD have lower intellectual functioning compared to the general population2, 3.