0 It took more than a decade and 1,500 experts from 39 countries to retool the tome that defines humankind’s mental ills: the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Their dedication and hard work have yielded an authoritative volume that defines and classifies mental disorders in order to improve diagnoses, treatment, and research.
Inevitably, the changes from DSM-IV have aroused some controversy. The DSM-5 includes new disorders and milder versions of old ones, causing some concerns about the potential for pathologising normal behaviour. However, even though it includes some new disorders, the DSM-5 catalogues several fewer than the 172 found in DSM-IV, as some have been dropped or combined.
One of these changes, the combining of four previously separate conditions under the one label of autism spectrum disorder will cause widespread debate within the autism and special education communities. This change means that the Asperger's label has been removed from DSM-5, effectively being reclassified as high functioning autism. Of course, changing the label from Asperger's to high functioning autism does not necessarily mean that either the rate of diagnosis nor the identification of appropriate interventions should change, but it is essential for practitioners in these areas to be aware of the changes and their implications.
The DSM-5 is an essential reference for professionals involved in diagnosis of mental health conditions. For further information, click on the links to the DSM-5 book and the related items in the DSM-5 Collection.
