In the 1940s, autism was likened to an emotional disturbance. The DSM-2 (1952) had it marked as a psychiatric condition like a childhood schizophrenia. Rather than a developmental disorder, autism was considered a psychiatric disturbance distinguished by social and emotional problems. Around 1943, child psychiatrist Leo Kanner described autism as lack of affective contact, fascination with objects, desire for sameness and non-communicative language before 30 months of age”.