Concerns Over the new DSM Brought to Light

[Shane for Wax]

http://www.themanitoban.com/2012/02/autism-fears/8917/

Parents of children with autism are concerned that proposed changes to the disorder’s clinical definition could exclude their children from treatment. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is undergoing its fifth major revision, a process that is beginning to wrap up after 14 years of work. Although published by an American organization, the current version of the DSM is in wide use internationally, especially in North America.

One of the potential changes in DSM-5 is the merging of several similar disorders under the heading of “autism spectrum disorder” (ASD), with new, narrower criteria for diagnosis. Affected conditions would include Asperger’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder (CID), and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), all of which would become points along the autism spectrum. Some are worried that under the new criteria, many patients previously diagnosed with Asperger’s or high-functioning forms of autism will no longer qualify for treatment.

I'm not sure myself if they won't qualify for treatment anymore. I just can't see it.

[Eniliad]

Probably not, but they have reason to be concerned anyway. After all, when someone starts redefining an illness or condition your son/daughter has, it's only natural to be worried that some bureaucratic numbnut is going to fuck over your child's life.

[Radiation]

I have been diagnosed since 2002 with Asperger's and I have my reservations about it being folded into the Autistic Spectrum Disorders umbrella. I am also afraid that there will be many children who show only mild enough signs but yet still need help but being refused that help.

[Witchyjoshy]

On the other hand, it might get actual serious support if it's under that umbrella.

[MaybeNever]

I have been diagnosed since 2002 with Asperger's and I have my reservations about it being folded into the Autistic Spectrum Disorders umbrella. I am also afraid that there will be many children who show only mild enough signs but yet still need help but being refused that help.

The thing is, Asperger's IS Autism, and creating ASD in place of the four or five flavors of Autism currently thrown around makes a lot of sense. I can understand the concern about treatment availability, but the scientific consensus should not be swayed by non-scientific factors. What we need is healthcare reform to ensure that people in need of treatment (whether it's for Autism or any other disorder) can get it.

[Shane for Wax]

I have access to the revisions for DSM V and it doesn't seem like anyone will be left out in the cold with the revised definitions.

It also won't be used for another year and a half.

[Quasirodent]

Asperger Syndrome has been considered under the veil of Autism in Canada for a while now, at least casually if not officially, and it doesn't seem to be making it more difficult to get support.   

I can see why it would be classified as an ASD, since many of the symptoms associated with Asperger Syndrome seem to be directly related to atypical development of the Amygdala, which is also implicated in other spectrum disorders.

The Amygdala are two nodes in the brain which are connected to several areas of neural development, including emotional learning and response, anxiety modulation, non-verbal social skills, memory formation, and gender identity.