Sluggish Cognitive Tempo =s New Attention Disorder

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So have I but I thought that was part of the autism....and usually describe myself as having slow processing speed. I never really thought of it as a disorder on its own, though.

I've met some pretty quick-thinking aspies, so I am guessing that the SCT is basically the "inattentive subtype" part of ADHD that some of us have as a comorbid. where the lions' share of aspies tend to fall down, is in quickly switching attention from one thing to another, no matter how quick their processing speed in general.

Yeah, I think what the DSM5 did with ASD is an improvement on the PDD category in the old DSM but I think the DSM5 overpathologized and created a few too many new disorders, like Intermittent Explosive Disorder. (However, I haven't really looked at the research on Sluggish Cognitive Tempo or IED and of course am not a doctor, I concede that they could be valid.)

I certainly also have slow processing speed and I get tired quickly and am a daydreamer.

I think I also have something along the lines of "intermittent explosive disorder." other members of my aspie group have this also, IMHO.

Oh, yes, me too. I have little fits of rage or outbursts or tantrums or meltdowns, whatever you want to call them, every so often. My sister used to call them "freak outs" when she lived with my mum and me and witnessed them. I'm just not sure it should be its own disorder.

Last edited by daydreamer84 on 13 Apr 2014, 7:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

why not?

I think it's more like a symptom associated with many different mental and developmental disorders. However, as I said, that's just my first reaction to seeing it as a new DSM disorder, I haven't researched it and in any case am not a mental health professional.

*Also, I meant its own disorder , not it's. Sorry.

I am guessing it is due to a lack of frontal lobe governance. weak frontal lobes cause a lot of mischief in this world.

It does, indeed.

I thought that sluggish cognitive tempo would become a sub-type of ADHD, or a symptom associated with the inattentive sub-type, not it's own disorder. I always read about it in association with inattentive sub-type ADHD.

just a guess, but maybe various head disorders are being parsed into finer categories because each one is separately billable?

It's possible.

It's not exactly new. It's been discussed int he ADHD community for years. Barkley is against calling it a sub type (and Inattentive ADHD as well) because there's no hyperactivity or impulsivity.

I can relate to the symptoms but only when I'm going through a depressive episode. Took me awhile to figure that one out. Guess I'm just classic ADHD. Actually, I'm Inattentive ADHD with bipolar.

I think these new disorders are created, like IED, when the symptom of one disorder becomes too strong so it's more than a symptom, and the person doesn't fit the rest of the symptoms of the disorder normally associated with it. Many people with psychiatric problems have meltdowns but maybe when the meltdown is the main symptom and there's not enough impairment in other symptoms then that's when they get a diagnosis of IED. My friend is diagnosed with bipolar, ADHD and an impulsive disorder. Makes no sense to me but she is very impulsive, more so than me.

I think the diagnosis of mood dysregulation disorder (another diagnosis people question) is necessary too especially to keep adolescents off mood stabilizers who may not need them.

Would be good to see SCT as an actual diagnosis. I know many people who need treatment for it now. Kind of like me and Pathological Demand Avoidance syndrome. A dx of autism isn't enough. PDA is a very specific disorder about the anxiety we feel to obeying orders, especially over an aversion to change. I seem to cope less well with adjusting to change or listening to people at all than others with autism. The fact there's little treatment for it means I get no help, so nothing changes for me. I'm usually in a severe state of anxiety.

Fingers crossed it will be added to DSM 6, if I'm not institutionalized or in jail by then.

^^
That makes sense. Maybe they do need a way to categorize people who have just that one symptom and associated impairment.

Yeah, that's a good analogy.

I hope I don't live long enough to have to live through that.

You and me both.