Press Releases

DSM-5 Draft Criteria Open for Public Comment
Mental health diagnostic manual available for final online comment period
By Holly Bortfeld

The DSM – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association – is like a giant catalog of diagnoses. It’s the “bible” that lists the criteria for each disorder.

DSM-IV-TR is the current version in use now. Today it includes PDD-NOS, Asperger’s, and Autism. The most notable diagnostic criteria difference between kids with Asperger’s and Autism is that there was no marked delay in language early in life. I know a lot of kids with Asperger’s diagnoses that did have a marked delay. The criteria isn’t perfect, to be sure.

Asperger’s Syndrome does have diagnostic differences from “autism” but in 2013, the new version – DSM-5 will remove all the variations and leaving us with just one diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorder.

In Recent Studies, These Proposed Changes Are Said To Disqualify 25-65% Of People With An ASD Diagnosis. Make No Mistake, This Is The Biggest Attack On Our Community To Date. What Will You Do If YOUR Child Loses Their Diagnosis, And Therefore Services? You Need To ACT TODAY.

The DSM5 Committee Press release says:

“DSM-5 Draft Criteria Open for Final Public Comment May 2nd through June 15th, 2012. This commenting period marks the third and final time DSM-5 draft criteria will be available for your feedback. Following this period the site will remain viewable with the draft proposals until DSM-5’s publication.” Please note: You must register before you can comment, then you have to go to the specific “disorder” you want to enter your comment on (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

PLEASE NOTE, as of May 9th: The DSM5 website’s comments section is NOT working properly to accept comments. Please EMAIL your comments to dsm5@psych.org

We Strongly Urge ALL OF YOU To Go And Comment About The Proposed Changes – This Is Your ONLY Chance To Say Your Peace.

Read more at http://tacanow.org/family-resources/autism-vs-aspergers-syndrome-diagnosis/
http://tacanow.org/blog/diagnostic-criteria-changes-what-your-family-needs-to-know/