DSM-5 Proposed Draft

[Bob]

At midnight tonight, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) released a proposed draft of the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Some notable changes:

-Addition of dimensional assessments
-Addition of standardized way to assess disorder severity
- Binge Eating Disorder added to eating disorders
- Asperger Syndrome removed and folded into the autism spectrum disorder umbrella
-Addition of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

In addition, there are several proposed changes to 302.85: Gender Identity Disorder in Adolescents or Adults:

* The default wait period for diagnosis-indicative questions has dropped from a year to six months.

* The "distress/impairment" requirement is proposed to be dropped. Also huge. Basically, this means that you can be diagnosed without saying "I am going to die unless something changes."

* It is proposed that the name gender identity disorder (GID) be replaced by "Gender Incongruence" (GI), because "...in a recent survey ... many very clearly indicated their rejection of the GID term because, in their view, it contributes to the stigmatization of their condition."



The APA is seeking public comment from health professionals, consumers of mental health services, and family members of people with mental disorders until April 20, 2010.

The DSM-5 will be published in May 2013.

http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevision....aspx?rid=193#
302.85: Gender Identity Disorder in Adolescents or Adults

[Linus]

Unfortunately, not all of it's good. On Pam's House Blend two entries talking about the DSM-V highlight some of those:

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/...sis-added-dsmv

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/...rans-activists

And whether it's called GID or GI, there will still be a stigmatization of the condition by society.

Additionally, I'm not sure why Intersex is now being added to GID as it really shouldn't be classified as a mental health issue. It should be classified as a surgerical mistake. I suspect it goes back to the idea that gender is a social creation only.

[violaine]

i have not really wanted a separation of AS, because in my own experiences with living on the spectrum, i am in fact, all over the spectrum- exceptionally high functioning some areas, as well as medium to low.


Eliminating the Asperger's diagnosis won't mean that people in that category will lose access to services, Grinker says. That's because "almost anybody with an Asperger's diagnosis also could qualify for what is called autistic disorder," he says, adding that the change could make it easier for some parents to get help for a child with Asperger's.

Right now, states including California provide services to children with autism but not those with Asperger's, Grinker says. "So removing Asperger's really removes what is a false barrier to parents getting care for their kids."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=123527833

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by violaine

i have not really wanted a separation of AS, because in my own experiences with living on the spectrum, i am in fact, all over the spectrum- exceptionally high functioning some areas, as well as medium to low.


Eliminating the Asperger's diagnosis won't mean that people in that category will lose access to services, Grinker says. That's because "almost anybody with an Asperger's diagnosis also could qualify for what is called autistic disorder," he says, adding that the change could make it easier for some parents to get help for a child with Asperger's.

Right now, states including California provide services to children with autism but not those with Asperger's, Grinker says. "So removing Asperger's really removes what is a false barrier to parents getting care for their kids."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=123527833

Hi, belle.

When I heard about this potential change at work today, I didn't think about the positive that you mention above (some people not being able to get services). Thanks for that thought.

Instead what I thought about was my concern that those parents who struggle with the idea of accepting that their child has Aspergers will have an even harder time accepting an Autism diagnosis (due to the stigma of that recognizable diagnosis), and that more children will become untreated (that may have been treated) if they had been "labeled" with the "lighter" diagnosis of Aspergers (meaning, parents will be less likely to follow through with treatment if they are told that their child has "autism")

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.

[violaine]

[QUOTE=DapperButch;48862]Hi, belle.

When I heard about this potential change at work today, I didn't think about the positive that you mention above (some people not being able to get services). Thanks for that thought.

Instead what I thought about was my concern that those parents who struggle with the idea of accepting that their child has Aspergers will have an even harder time accepting an Autism diagnosis (due to the stigma of that recognizable diagnosis), and that more children will become untreated (that may have been treated) if they had been "labeled" with the "lighter" diagnosis of Aspergers (meaning, parents will be less likely to follow through with treatment if they are told that their child has "autism")

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.

thank you for responding to my post, and interest in further communication regarding the elimination of asperger's dx to the DSM V.

i have seen the parents in support groups- yes - they do often struggle with the 'A' word. sometimes, it appears to be more about what NT parents want AT kids to do/be, instead of who the person on the spectrum wishes to be, and i cannot help thinking about NT hard wiring connected to peer pressure - many times there's perceived such strengths in achieving lots of socialisation/fitting in, et c.

asperger's is not necessary 'lighter' in all areas- that's what i mean- it manifests for everyone differently. because someone is more verbal, can operate a computer, and hold a job- does not automatically assume the aspie is free of depression, anxiety, melt.down, & insomnia. what if a person has no family support, friendships, & social skills? although a 'lighter' dx is given, there's huge missing pieces.

if parents view asperger's as an easier road, that could set the child/teen/adult up for as much failure as choosing to eliminate very real needs a person on the spectrum has in place for coping skills- just because the parent forces 'normalisation' either from denial or embarrassment.

acceptace is gold- education is great- it's up to the parents to educate themselves instead of being in denial, embarrassed, or forcing an AT to be NT

best,
belle

[violaine]

http://wamu.org/programs/dr/10/02/16.php


The Latest on Aspergers and Autism
A move to include Aspergers within the definition of autism has raised concerns of families, physicians, educators and insurance companies. The latest on our understanding of Aspergers syndrome.

Guests
Dr. Fred Volkmar, professor of child psychiatry and director of the Yale University Child Study Center at Yale University School of Medicine and an international authority on autism spectrum disorders. Coauthor of A Practical Guide to Autism with his wife Lisa Wiesner.

Gardiner Harris, science reporter for "The New York Times"

Dr. Edwin Cook, an autism researcher at the University of Illinois Chicago and member of the American Psychiatric Association's work group proposing the changes to their diagnostic manual.

[DapperButch]

[QUOTE=violaine;49341][QUOTE=DapperButch;48862]Hi, belle.

When I heard about this potential change at work today, I didn't think about the positive that you mention above (some people not being able to get services). Thanks for that thought.

Instead what I thought about was my concern that those parents who struggle with the idea of accepting that their child has Aspergers will have an even harder time accepting an Autism diagnosis (due to the stigma of that recognizable diagnosis), and that more children will become untreated (that may have been treated) if they had been "labeled" with the "lighter" diagnosis of Aspergers (meaning, parents will be less likely to follow through with treatment if they are told that their child has "autism")

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"]thank you for responding to my post, and interest in further communication regarding the elimination of asperger's dx to the DSM V.

i have seen the parents in support groups- yes - they do often struggle with the 'A' word. sometimes, it appears to be more about what NT parents want AT kids to do/be, instead of who the person on the spectrum wishes to be, and i cannot help thinking about NT hard wiring connected to peer pressure - many times there's perceived such strengths in achieving lots of socialisation/fitting in, et c.
asperger's is not necessary 'lighter' in all areas- that's what i mean- it manifests for everyone differently. because someone is more verbal, can operate a computer, and hold a job- does not automatically assume the aspie is free of depression, anxiety, melt.down, & insomnia. what if a person has no family support, friendships, & social skills? although a 'lighter' dx is given, there's huge missing pieces.

if parents view asperger's as an easier road, that could set the child/teen/adult up for as much failure as choosing to eliminate very real needs a person on the spectrum has in place for coping skills- just because the parent forces 'normalisation' either from denial or embarrassment.

acceptace is gold- education is great- it's up to the parents to educate themselves instead of being in denial, embarrassed, or forcing an AT to be NT

best,
belle

I absolutely agree with you across the board, belle. Thank you for your thoughts.

[Darth Denkay]

For those of you who want to actively voice your opinion on what is going on with GID in the upcoming DSM edition, here is a link you might find useful.

http://professionals.gidreform.org/

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Darth Denkay

For those of you who want to actively voice your opinion on what is going on with GID in the upcoming DSM edition, here is a link you might find useful.

http://professionals.gidreform.org/

Thanks! it really is an important time to make opinions to the APA about this. There are several diagnostic categories that need our attention!