Autism Spectrum May Be Narrowed In New DSM
From the
New York Times:
Proposed changes in the definition of autism would sharply reduce the skyrocketing rate at which the disorder is diagnosed and might make it harder for many people who would no longer meet the criteria to get health, educational and social services, a new analysis suggests.
The definition is now being reassessed by an expert panel appointed by the American Psychiatric Association, which is completing work on the fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the first major revision in 17 years. The D.S.M., as the manual is known, is the standard reference for mental disorders, driving research, treatment and insurance decisions....
The proposed changes would probably exclude people with a diagnosis who were higher functioning. ...
The revisions are about 90 percent complete and will be final by December, according to Dr. David J. Kupfer, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and chairman of the task force making the revisions. ...
In the new analysis, Dr. Volkmar, along with Brian Reichow and James McPartland, both at Yale, used data from a large 1993 study that served as the basis for the current criteria. They focused on 372 children and adults who were among the highest functioning and found that overall, only 45 percent of them would qualify for the proposed autism spectrum diagnosis now under review.
This is well overdue. Autism is real serious stuff. But many on the so-called "autism spectrum" do not have autism or any disabling problem. Many that are diagnosed with Asperger's (currently on the autism spectrum) are not disabled at all -- odd, maybe, socially awkward, maybe, but not disabled. Look at the founder of Facebook -- he's probably on the high end of the autism spectrum, and a billionaire. That type of broad definition of autism makes the diagnosis meaningless.
ReplyDeleteno kidding...many of the traits of some highly succesful people (Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Steve Jobs to name three) are consistent with Asperger's. Attention to detail, bookishness, indifference to emotions are all good traits of entrepreneurs and to some extent, leaders.
ReplyDeleteI would argue that, instead of finding this to be a "disability", we should work to help people who have these traits maximize their potential (which is possibly greater than those without).
I, too, have watched with great interest as the numbers of kids diagnosed with autism has grown over the last 20 years. Telling is the fact that no one can attribute any real cause to an increase in the incidence of the disorder. Some has simply said that it's due to better diagnostic measures, but doesn't that also indicate that the diagnoses may just be made more often?
ReplyDeleteAs to parents who may wish their mildly disordered (or different) children to be pegged with a disease on the "autism spectrum", I think one reason may be, not benefits so much as for access to very specialized and individualized - one on one in many cases - educational services. These days it's almost a badge of honor to be able to say that your kid has Asperger's (or, a usage I hate, to say that your kid "*is* an Asperger's kid")