Social communication disorder: a narrative review on current insights

Abstract

Social communication disorder (SCD) is a novel diagnosis listed under the rubric of communication disorders within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) and it is reported to be characterized by impairment in use of verbal and nonverbal communication for social aims. This review attempts to summarize the current understanding of the SCD concept along with its evolution and presents data from previous studies conducted. Suggestions for further research are also delineated. As listed in DSM-5, the criteria for this novel diagnosis are vague, display elevated comorbidity with other neurodevelopmental disorders and other childhood psychopathologies, and show partial overlap with autistic spectrum disorders both in terms of genetics and family histories. Data on cross-cultural presentations and temporal stability are also limited. The social communication model proposed by Catani and Bambini may help integrate the neurobiological findings pertaining to SCD. Valid and reliable assessment methods need to be developed for SCD. This may involve either development of novel instruments capturing the DSM-5 criteria or application of statistical methods such as item response theory to existing instruments. The relationships between broad autism phenotype, pragmatic language impairment, nonverbal learning disorder, learning disorders, autistic spectrum disorders, and SCD should be evaluated with further studies.

Keywords:

• social communication disorder
• pragmatics
• autistic spectrum disorder
• neuro-development

Acknowledgments

Parts of this paper were presented in the panel “Social Communication Disorder or Asperger Syndrome” in the 24th National Congress of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Disorders (2014, Konya, Turkey) and in the poster titled “DSM-5 diagnoses of children and adolescents diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorders according to the DSM-IV-TR system and predictors of social communication disorder diagnosis” in the 23rd National Congress of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Disorders (2013, Edirne, Turkey). The paper has not been submitted before in its entirety for potential publication and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.

Author contributions

All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.