The DSM5 is certainly open to criticism; particularly in its combining of the pervasive developmental disorders into one Autism Spectrum Disorder ignoring the very large numbers of persons with DSM-IV Autistic Disorder who also suffer from Intellectual Disability. One point which did make sense in the Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnostic criteria though is the one that is routinely ignored by those who glorify autism disorders ... Criterion D (underlining added):
Diagnostic Criteria for 299.00 Autism Spectrum Disorder
D.Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning.
The subscribers to the irrational view that autism disorder, a mental health disorder diagnosis, is not really a disorder after all are able to maintain their beliefs by ignoring reality particularly the realities faced by those with severe autism disorders. They routinely claim every historical genius or artistic talent as an "autistic". They argue for the purity of the autism spectrumm "condition" by pretending there intellectual disability is just a coincidence and has nothing to do with autism. In that regard of course they are on the same page as the professionals who separate ID and ASD and call them comorbid conditions. They fall off that page though and put distance between themselves and the autism health care professionals by ignoring the plain wording of the DSM5 ASD Criterion D.
Unfortunately a Jerry Seinfeld has only to speak and his words are heard and debated around the world. JS "migh be autistic" and that is good enough for those who want to put distance between themselves, or their family members, and the intellectually disabled and impaired in their everyday life activities at the severe end of the spectrum were autism is exactly what it has always been ... a disorder.
Very high functioning persons claiming to be autistic must be able to demonstrate, as stated in DSM5 299.00 Autism Spectrum Disorder that the DSM5 autism symptoms cause .... . clinically significant impairment in current functioning. Otherwise they should not receive an ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis and should not claim to be autistic.
Very high functioning persons claiming to be autistic must be able to demonstrate, as stated in DSM5 299.00 Autism Spectrum Disorder that the DSM5 autism symptoms cause .... . clinically significant impairment in current functioning. Otherwise they should not receive an ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis and should not claim to be autistic.
3 comments:
What wrong with dsm five, my god and have high funct autism and yes it impairs my functioning.
w ford
1. I realize people with a (HF) autism disorder diagnosis have impaired functioning. IF they do not have impaired functioning then Criterion D should preclude a diagnosis. If you have an autism diagnosis or Aspergers under the DSM-IV then you should be impaired functioning.
2. What is wrong with the DSM5? I have written many times on this blog site about my concerns including hiding the more severely impaired from public awarenes by combing everything as 1 autism which increasingly justifies the tendency in the media AND in autism research to EXCLUDE the severely autistic with ID from public understanding of autism and from autism research results.
3. I am not alone in my concerns about the DSM5. There have been a number of autism experts who have expressed concern.
Roger’s point is very valid. He is living proof of an extremely rare, but treatable, form of “autism”. There are many other rare, but known, dysfunctions that to “autism”. Biologically these conditions are completely unrelated. If you give Roger’s little wonder pill to Connor, it will have no effect.
Trying to find therapies for people affected by autism as defined by DSM will continue to fail. People need a biological diagnosis, not a behavioural diagnosis. As Roger found out, for some people this is possible. For many people, using today’s science, it may not be possible. Perhaps more people should insist on their doctors finding the route cause of their “autism”. Researchers should then look for treatments for specific dysfunctions and trial them only on people with that exact diagnosis; then some real progress could be made.
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