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Estimated Changes from DSM-IV to DSM-V

The official release of the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) V, due out in 2013, is quickly coming upon us! And, unsurprisingly, it’s more POLITICS than anything else!

Out: “Asperger’s Syndrome,” “PDD-NOS,” & “Autistic Disorder”
In: “Autistic Spectrum Disorder”

To begin, the Autistic Spectrum does not belong in the DSM, in the first place. No matter which end of the spectrum, we are talking about a neurological syndrome, not a mental disorder! Some may recall that I discussed this same point with regards to the DSM-V and Asperger’s syndrome in my November 2009  article, “A Vanishing Diagnosis for Asperger’s Syndrome?.”

Secondly, few in the media are discussing the impact that fully dropping the terms “Asperger’s syndrome” and “PDD-NOS” from medical jargon will have on the Autistic community. Many Autistic individuals strongly identify with the terms, and much of Autistic culture is based around them. Most, including myself, will continue to use the word “Asperger” regularly, regardless of the decisions of the American Psychiatric Society. The change in terminology will be unnecessarily polarizing in many ways.

As far as symptoms go, the DSM-V’s new “Autistic Spectrum Disorder” combines most features of the DSM-IV’s “Autistic Disorder” and “Asperger’s Syndrome“. However, there is also the addition of a new and ominous criteria (D), requiring that “symptoms together limit and impair everyday functioning.” Such a factor will most assuredly reduce diagnostic rates for those on the spectrum, while an actual diagnosis will be difficult for any of those individuals who are able to successfully manage their Autistic symptom within our neurotypical society – no matter how difficult their daily struggle! Like I said: POLITICS! And, as is often the case, the Autistic community is caught right in the middle! The changes seem more about denial of available public services than anything else…

Here are the actual proposed DSM-V changes:
http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=94#

Compare the changes to the various DSM-IV Autistic Spectrum definitions:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html

To the dismay of many, according to three separate research estimates based on the proposals of the new DSM-V, up to 75% of those previously diagnosed as having Asperger’s syndrome will no longer qualify as being on the Autistic Spectrum, as well as up to 85% of those with PDD-NOS:

Redefining Autism:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/01/20/us/redefining-autism.html?ref=research

Filed under: Personal Articles | Tagged: DSM-IV, autism, Asperger Syndrome, Autistic Spectrum, Politics, PDD-NOS, DSM-V, Asperger's, P.D.D.-N.O.S. | Leave a Comment »