Community Corner

N.Y. Times: New Autism Definition Could Affect Rates of Diagnosis

American Psychiatric Association mulling new definition for fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

The New York Times is reporting on potential upcoming changes to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or D.S.M., which an analysis suggests could sharply curb the number of autism diagnoses.

The Times says upcoming revisions to the D.S.M., the first major revision to the mental disorder desk reference book in 17 years, could make access to health, educational and social services more difficult to qualify for as it narrows the definition of the disorder.

An infographic also published in the times shows how the new definition could affect current diagnoses of autism, Asperger Syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder, narrowing the number of cases of each that would fit into the newly agreed-upon definition.

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