Proposed Change To Criteria for Asperger Diagnosis
DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and contains descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria for diagnosing mental disorders. Another role of DSM is to establish criteria for diagnosis that can be used in research on psychiatric disorders. Although the DSM is published by the APA it is very often used by clinicians, researchers, and other professionals in Canada and other jurisdictions as a guide in diagnosing and treating disorders.
The current edition of the DSM (DSM-IV) was published in 1994 and was the first edition to recognize Asperger’s Disorder (Asperger syndrome) as a formal diagnosis. The next edition (DSM-5) will be published in 2013. The DSM-5 Work Group has proposed that the Asperger’s disorder diagnosis be subsumed into an existing disorder: Autistic Disorder (Autism Spectrum Disorder) . The table below compares the existing criteria (DSM-IV) for Asperger’s Disorder diagnoses with the proposed (DSM-5) criteria for Autistic Disorder. You can study the proposed changes in more detail by going to the DSM Development site.
We at AMI would like to receive your opinions on this proposed change. Please take a few short moments to complete our survey at http://newsletter.swd.ca/surveys.php?id=9 .
DSM-IV (Existing) |
DSM-5 (Proposal) |
299.80 Asperger’s Disorder |
299.00 Autistic Disorder
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| Asperger’s Disorder
A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following: (1) marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction (2) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level (3) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people) (4) lack of social or emotional reciprocity B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following: (1) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus (2) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals (3) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements) (4) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. D. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years). E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood. F. Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder
Must meet criteria 1, 2, and 3: 1. Clinically significant, persistent deficits in social communication and interactions, as manifest by all of the following: a. Marked deficits in nonverbal and verbal communication used for social interaction: b. Lack of social reciprocity; c. Failure to develop and maintain peer relationships appropriate to developmental level 2. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least TWO of the following: a. Stereotyped motor or verbal behaviors, or unusual sensory behaviors b. Excessive adherence to routines and ritualized patterns of behavior c. Restricted, fixated interests 3. Symptoms must be present in early childhood (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities)
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Information | admin March 30, 2010
