I could not agree more with this article. I am a parent of two, one one of whom has autism who was diagnosed over 25 years ago, under the stricter standards. Your discussion about the DSM is right on the money. "Last year, Dr. Allen Frances, a world-renowned-psychiatrist who helped loosen the definition of autism for the DSM-IV, told the…
I could not agree more with this article. I am a parent of two, one one of whom has autism who was diagnosed over 25 years ago, under the stricter standards. Your discussion about the DSM is right on the money. "Last year, Dr. Allen Frances, a world-renowned-psychiatrist who helped loosen the definition of autism for the DSM-IV, told the New York Post he regretted his decision: “More clinicians began labeling both normal diversity and a variety of other psychological problems as autistic.” Dr. Frances estimated that his changes would triple the rate of autism. According to the CDC, it has more than quadrupled since 2000." Moreover kudos to the reference from a respected professional who recognized the danger of "mental health professionals . . . pathologizing normal childhood behavior. Shyness has become social anxiety, sadness replaced by depression." Life is full of uncomfortable emotions and conditions that act in concordance with the rest of our experience to produce functional adults capable of navigating the world. That is not the case for individuals who genuinely have serious medical or psychological conditions. Not all discomfort or searching for your way through the trials and tribulations of life are mental illness.
The idea that overdiagnosing mental health disorders has deleterious effects is catching on quickly.
I could not agree more with this article. I am a parent of two, one one of whom has autism who was diagnosed over 25 years ago, under the stricter standards. Your discussion about the DSM is right on the money. "Last year, Dr. Allen Frances, a world-renowned-psychiatrist who helped loosen the definition of autism for the DSM-IV, told the New York Post he regretted his decision: “More clinicians began labeling both normal diversity and a variety of other psychological problems as autistic.” Dr. Frances estimated that his changes would triple the rate of autism. According to the CDC, it has more than quadrupled since 2000." Moreover kudos to the reference from a respected professional who recognized the danger of "mental health professionals . . . pathologizing normal childhood behavior. Shyness has become social anxiety, sadness replaced by depression." Life is full of uncomfortable emotions and conditions that act in concordance with the rest of our experience to produce functional adults capable of navigating the world. That is not the case for individuals who genuinely have serious medical or psychological conditions. Not all discomfort or searching for your way through the trials and tribulations of life are mental illness.
The idea that overdiagnosing mental health disorders has deleterious effects is catching on quickly.