Various studies encouraged modifications to DSM-5 to require fewer symptoms to be present to meet the diagnosis.
DSM-5 is more specific than DSM-IV that means that if a clinician using DSM-5 diagnoses a person with autism, it is more likely the person actually has the disorder.
A more recent study with a larger patient group showed that DSM-5 would diagnose 91% of those children with a DSM-IV diagnosis of an autism disorder.
A well-publicized study by McPartland showed that 61% of cases with autism disorders would not meet DSM-5 diagnoses.
Studies which compare DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria for autism show that DSM-5 will diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder less often.
DSM-5 continues with the same set of criteria for repetitive, restricted behaviors but also includes symptoms for sensory problems.
DSM-5 combines criteria for social and language symptoms into one domain of social communicative and interactive problems and now all three criteria must be met.
Research has not shown that the outcome for Asperger’s Disorder is different from high functioning autism.
Experts don’t agree on which patients would be diagnosed with Asperger’s disorder and which patients would be diagnosed with autism using DSM-IV.
The diagnoses of autism, Asperger’s Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder have been replaced by one diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
DSM-5 was developed with the goal of a clearer, simpler, more reliable diagnosis which recognized the “essential shared feature of the autism spectrum”.
The prevalence of autism has increased dramatically in the last 10 years in part due to increased awareness but also related to diagnostic practices.
To help families understand the changes here are some important points to remember: Many people have questions and concerns how the new DSM-5 diagnostic criteria will effect individuals with autism.
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