Did Kanner Actually Describe the First Account of Autism? The Mystery of 1938

Fellowes, Sam (2015) Did Kanner Actually Describe the First Account of Autism? The Mystery of 1938. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45 (7). pp. 2274-2276. ISSN 0162-3257

Abstract

Kanner opens his pioneering 1943 paper on autism by making a mysterious mention of the year 1938. Recent letters to the editor of this journal have disagreed over a particular interpretation—does 1938 refer to an early paper by Asperger, effectively meaning Kanner plagiarised Asperger? I argue 1938 refers to a paper by Louise Despert. This was not plagiarism but a case of building on Despert’s ideas. Additionally, I suggest his motives for not mentioning her by name were not dishonourable.