False Positive Epidemics, DSM-V & Autism

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False Positive Epidemics, DSM-V & Autism

Health / Autism

Parents and professionals have very strong feelings with regard to the upcoming

publication of the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

Disorders (DSM-5). The newest revision of the DSM (aka psychiatric bible) seems

to put significant focus upon concern for treating those who are less in need of

treatment - by creation of new conditions. An abundance in reporting has already

pointed out that the new and upcoming DSM will have so great a variety of new

disorders as to drastically shrink the number of those who might be considered

normal. Doing such lends to medicating individuals when it might not be

necessary. What also might happen is neglect of those in most need of care.

History shows that small changes to the DSM can cause paradigm shifts for the

diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues. The DSM-4 might be responsible

for creating three false positive epidemics...

Changes to the previous version (DSM-4) seem to have contributed to three

false positive " epidemics " * – high rates of attention deficit hyperactivity

disorder, autistic disorder, and childhood bipolar disorders. Other factors

also contributed to fanning the flames – in particular, drug companies marketing

drugs for these diagnoses not just to doctors, but also to the general public.

During the last decade, how many doctors were harangued by worried parents into

giving drugs like Ritalin to children who didn’t really need it?

New Autism Spectrum Disorder DSM-5 Gives points and analysis on this subject

and gives insight about how the DSM revision can hurt those who are in need of

help the most.

In the Brave New World of the DSM-5 everyone will be happy except the

severely disabled, low functioning persons with Autistic Disorder and

Intellectual Disability, the " classic " autistics ... and the parents and family

members who are the only ... the ONLY ... ones fighting on their behalf.

Members of the APA will be busy slapping each other on the back and

congratulating themselves for solving the Autism Crisis in the way they know

best ... by defining it away.

The author also points out how success rates for those who work with autistic

subjects will climb because the New Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis includes

those without Intellectual Disability. However, the autism cases with

Intellectual Disability will be hidden away in institutions because

psychologists most likely will defer most of their time and care for treating

those in the spectrum who have no Intellectual Disability and are high

functioning. I would say that the author might be seeing the future that DSM-5

has in mind for those severely affected by autism.

Families press on in any way that they possibly can, but the obstacles are

already great. This makes me wonder why a DSM is being created that might hurt

far more than it will actually help?