"Two Fatal Technical Flaws In The DSM5 Definition of Au

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Allen Frances:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sav ... ion-autism

Here is what I've been reading.

Proposed DSM-V criteria for autism spectrum disorders.

An individual must meet criteria A, B, C and D:

A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across contexts, not accounted for by general developmental delays, and manifest by all 3 of the following:

1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity; ranging from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back and forth conversation through reduced sharing of interests, emotions, and affect and response to total lack of initiation of social interaction.

2. Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction; ranging from poorly integrated- verbal and nonverbal communication, through abnormalities in eye contact and body-language, or deficits in understanding and use of nonverbal communication, to total lack of facial expression or gestures.

3. Deficits in developing and maintaining relationships, appropriate to developmental level (beyond those with caregivers); ranging from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit different social contexts through difficulties in sharing imaginative play and in making friends to an apparent absence of interest in people.

B. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities as manifested by at least two of the following:

1. Stereotyped or repetitive speech, motor movements, or use of objects; (such as simple motor stereotypies, echolalia, repetitive use of objects, or idiosyncratic phrases).

2. Excessive adherence to routines, ritualized patterns of verbal or nonverbal behavior, or excessive resistance to change; (such as motoric rituals, insistence on same route or food, repetitive questioning or extreme distress at small changes).

3. Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus; (such as strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or perseverative interests).

4. Hyper-or hypo-reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of environment; (such as apparent indifference to pain/heat/cold, adverse response to specific sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, fascination with lights or spinning objects).

C. Symptoms must be present in early childhood (but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities)

D. Symptoms together limit and impair everyday functioning

The proposed criteria certainly made it clear that all three points in criteria A must be met, but perhaps the final version left this part out, probably an oversight/typo.

I've been on the internet looking for the actual printout from the DSM-5 regarding autism but haven't located it. The actual book sells for $185 and is 940 pages long so I guess it'll be a while before it shows up on the internet. Interestingly, the ICD-10 Bluebook is available as a free PDF.

The link I've created below is the closet to what I've seen will be on DSM-5 regarding Autism. It says:

This month, the American Psychiatric Association will publish the latest edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – the DSM-5. The manual contains significant changes to the diagnostic criteria for individuals with autism.

As you'll see, the criteria in the link is the same as the criteria we've all been reading.

http://www.ageofautism.com/2013/05/safe ... -2013.html

Of all of the issues I've seen raised about DSM-5, these seem rather weak.

Of course, when the author is also the author of DSM-IV, it does make some sense. Perhaps he's suggesting that they really did'nt change it at all.

Here they are I found them on YouTube :$ yes it s a long video http://youtu.be/ILiX9gGd0Ik

Thanks for posting the video, ASdogGeek. Around the 16 minute mark you'll see that the criteria is just what is commonly known - all 3 of Criterion A must be met.

They are trying to define gold?

The first flaw is dumdum, cuz criteria have said all 3 required, but maybe error that needs correction ASAP.

The second flaw indicates that the flaw pointer outer has reading comprehension problems.

What is utterly surprising is the writer of the article is not only a doctor but the chair of the DSM-IV committee as well! Maybe he wasn't asked to consult with the DSM-5 crew so he's angry? Very strange.

I am wondering, does this Allen Frances have any awareness of how stupid his objections are, esp. #2? If he did, then I would think that he wouldn't publish them, but maybe he is blinded by anger caused by changes to his DSM-IV. See how much awesome ToM I applied in this post.