Brief report: the impact of changing from DSM-IV 'Asperger's' to DSM-5 'autistic spectrum disorder' diagnostic labels on stigma and treatment attitudes.
Calling it ASD instead of Asperger’s does not raise stigma and may make adults more open to help.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Ohan et al. (2015) asked adults to read a short story about a man. Some stories said he had Asperger’s, some said ASD, and some gave no label.
After reading, each adult answered questions about stigma, help-seeking, and treatment need. The team then compared the three groups.
What they found
The label made no difference for stigma. Adults rated the man the same whether they saw Asperger’s, ASD, or no label.
Both labels boosted willingness to seek help and belief that treatment works. The jump was small but real.
How this fits with other research
Ohan et al. (2015) matches Ohan et al. (2015) college study. Both found that saying “autism” helps, not hurts, peer attitudes.
Shannon et al. (2008) saw mixed results: autism disclosure helped on some traits but not others. The new study shows the overall balance is neutral to good.
Stewart et al. (2018) moved beyond labels to real tools. Their autism cards and bracelets also cut public stigma, showing you can act on these findings in daily life.
Why it matters
You can stop worrying that “ASD” sounds worse than Asperger’s. When you explain a diagnosis to families, staff, or community partners, either term is fine. If you want to nudge someone toward services, simply naming the condition—ASD or Asperger’s—can make treatment feel more acceptable and effective.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
In the DSM-5, 'Asperger's Disorder' was incorporated into 'Autistic Spectrum Disorder' (ASD). One key concern in this change has been that the ASD label will increase negative attitudes relative to the Asperger's label. To test this, we asked 465 American adults to read a vignette describing a child with autistic symptoms that included an ASD label, an Asperger's label, or no label, and rate their stigma and treatment attitudes (help-seeking and perceived effectiveness). Contrary to predictions, label did not impact stigma. Label did impact treatment attitudes, with greater help-seeking and perceived treatment effectiveness for both Asperger's and ASD labels. In sum, concern that the ASD label will increase negative perceptions, at least amongst the general public, is not supported.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2015 · doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2485-7