Help change the DSM-V

[pyraxis]

The APA (American Psychiatric Association) workgroups who are considering proposed changes to the DSM-V have opened up a website to comments from clinicians and other interested people.

All you have to do is register on www.dsm5.org, then log in and select a condition from the Proposed Revisions menu.

Autistics, multiples, anyone else who could be diagnosed with a condition that's being revised, I'm looking at you. ;)

Members of ksol1460 on AstraeasWeb wrote an excellent summary here of the proposed changes to Dissociative Identity Disorder. For the first time, they're considering a criterion that would require significant impairment in day-to-day functioning. There's also a criterion excluding possession experiences in the context of cultural practices and religion. IMO it could help remove some of the stigma attached to multiplicity, the assumption that it's automatically a disorder that must be fixed.

In terms of developmental disorders, they're merging Asperger's into Autism Spectrum Disorder and removing the requirement of early childhood speech delay. I know, this is old news, but this is the first I've heard that they're seeking feedback from the community. So if anyone objects, now's the time to say so.

They're accepting comments until June 15th.

Comments

[angiedub.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. I knew there was a revision in the works, but this is the first time I heard of a request for input by those most affected. Must be related to all those Ayn Rand Repubs with their social Darwinism.

[pyraxis]

They may be underestimating the momentum of an internet meme. The registration system is clearly geared towards professionals, with spaces for professional affiliations and warnings that your regular APA login will not work.

I can't fathom how it would be influenced by social darwinism, though?

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

Well, I did my little bit towards the "internet meme":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSM-5#Criticism_of_DSM-5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder#Diagnosis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSM-5#Dissociative_identity_disorder

Hah hah hah hah.

They didn't even have "dissociative identity disorder" on the DSM-5 proposed changes section. Until I put it there.

Coming up: Chris Akanora creates a Youtube on this subject.

[pyraxis]

Woot! Thank you!

Who is Chris Akanora?

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

Me!

[pyraxis]

Hi! :D Uh, welcome back to Earth? Welcome back to the airwaves? Is that right?

I like your icon.

- j-t

[angiedub.livejournal.com]

I was thinking along the lines of people who need help falling through the cracks if the DSM can be rewritten in such a way that those people no qualify for assistance.

[ksol1460.livejournal.com]

I think it's a political move on their part. When word got out that the DSM-V was to be compiled behind closed doors, there was a good deal of backlash on behalf of some members of the psychiatric community as well as the general public. There has since been some backpedalling and retrenching on this, and I believe the call for public input was inspired by this controversy. It is a small step, and much more needs to be done.

In my personal opinion, they should throw the whole bloody thing out, but if they must have it, the least they can do is ask clients and potential clients for their opinions, and take them seriously -- not just regard the responses themselves as signs of mental illness.