Forthcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

I read what the National Autistic Society posted.

I also know about what the Americans feel as I read the Autism World Support Network and it includes many people in the USA.  They think it is a method of saving money reducing the number of people on the Autistim spectrum.

DSM5 is the fifth edition coming out in May 2013 which is the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association Manual.

Many Professional use it as guide line for diagnosing people with Autism and other conditions but most professionals in the UK do not use DSM 5 but their new guide lines will probably spread to other manuals over the years.

People already diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome will keep their diagnsoes and Asperger Syndrome will continue to be an unofficial expression used by Doctors.

It is a good idea to study what the proposals of DSM 5 and the NAS response.

If you do not want change you do not have much to worry about as existing people diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome or Autism will not be affected by the change.  May be over the years they will diagnose slightly fewer people with Autism.  It will be replaced by Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Eventually with the proposals Asperger people will count as mildly Autistic.

In 1976 a Psychiatrist said that I was mildly Autistic and a Doctor in 2009 explained to me that mild Autism in 1976 is the equivalent of Asperger Syndrome today.

The family Psyclogist in 1990 must have gone by the remark of a Psychiatrist who said I had mild Autism in 1976.  She said I was diagnsoed with Asperger Syndrome.

It does mean that we are going full circle  calling Asperger Syndrome mild Autism before the early 1990s Asperger Syndrome counted as Mild Autism.

Asperger Syndrome only officially existed in 1994.

I have said before that I would like to do something different have a Neuro Diverse label including Asperger Syndrome Dyslexia Dyspraxia and Attention Deficit Disorder.

One of the reasons is because of Co Existing Conditions meaning most people with Asperger Syndrome have more than one condition.  I do not think even experts were aware that most people with Aspereger Syndrome have Co-Existing Conditions in 1994 when Asperger Syndrome became officially recognsied.

Second reason it would make it more difficult to Sterotype Asperger people.

Unfortunately there appears no plans for a new Neuro Diverse Label although a diagnoses of Autistic Spectrum Disorder will include a statement of needs according to DSM5.

I think a statement of needs is a good idea.

David

Hello,

Firstly I think that since child diagnosis seems to be a priority here it must also be the same in the U.S.

I know that in the U.K DSM-IV is used as the diagnostic tool or measure of Autism as it is and has been for some years in the U.S.

It is perhaps natural to believe that any changes made in DSM-V will soon be implemented her in the U.K.

My own diagnosis straddles both ASD and Aspergers but my Psychlogist says that in such events the ASD diagnosis takes priority.

In America these changes are worrying the Autisc community no end.

James

If I could respond with a couple of questions?

What level of impact has this American organisation on UK psychiatrists?  Is there an immediate correlation between a US decision and UK following through on other aspects of Mental health?

They are looking at a continuum from mild to severe in place of previous categories. But the usual experience of autism is it can change over a lifetime, more or less marked, so that is bound to have some impact if it is used without adequate understanding of change.

How does it compare with what UK psychiatrists perceive?

It keeps referring to children, so what impact would it have on adult diagnosis?