Prevalence of Autism - From DSM-IV to DSM-V

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I thought some might find this interesting:

A new study was just released documenting the changes from DSM-IV to DSM-V in the prevalence of autism diagnoses based on a South Korean sample o 7-12 year old children (N=55,256).

The overall DSM-V prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was 2.2 percent in the sample (1 out of 45), increasing to 2.64 (1 out of 38) if individuals diagnosed with the new Social Communications Disorder (SCD) were included (see the first link below). The authors note that this is almost identical to the prevalence of autism and other persistent development disorders under DSM-IV.

A more detailed breakdown of the results (from the second link below):

This suggests that the changes from DSM-IV to DSM-V in the prevalence of autism may be somewhat minor.

Individuals with classical autism would see almost no changes with the new criteria, while 10 out of 11 individuals qualifying for Asperger's Disorder under DSM-IV would receive a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder under DSM-V.

However, a sizable minority of individuals who would receive the PDD-NOS diagnosis under DSM-IV would instead be diagnosed with SCD under DSM-V. Since SCD is a new diagnostic category, the consequences of this diagnostic shift will likely require additional studies.

Furthermore, a CDC report studying the same changes from DSM-IV to DSM-V was recently released as well. These results showed a larger decrease in the prevalence of autism under DSM-V. However, the CDC study only took into account the ASD diagnosis, and did not include individuals who would instead be diagnosed with SCD under DSM-V (also see the second link below for reasons why the results in the South Korean study might be more valid).

Sources:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar ... 6714000446
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 101232.htm
http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article ... id=1814891
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/featur ... -dsm5.html

A lot of the most successful people with Asperger's are probably part of the other 1 out of 11. I think they're trying to discredit a lot of the Aspie success stories and make us look more inferior as a group, by eliminating the highest functioning people from the spectrum. They also eliminated the iconic AS diagnosis by incorporating it into ASD. Our advocacy movement, that already isn't doing too good, is only going to get worse because of them.

I think it is a variation of your theory. Aspergers has always had a lot professionals that never believed it exists or was real Autism. The perception of mass overdiagnosis and hordes of Aspie wannabies only "confirmed" what they already believed. Looking back this combined with insurance companies who were none to pleased with the great expansion in the number of diagnosis means there was never a realistic chance of stopping this.

I thought the diagnosis would drop by a third. But there are a lot of specialists who believe Aspergers exists or dislike the DSM 5 for a number of reasons. So they are not using the DSM 5 or finding ways to fit people into the DSM 5 whom they feel are impaired even if they do not
exactly fit the criteria.

From what I see the damage so far has been more psychological then a drop in diagnosis. Aspie is not an identity the way it was a few months ago but more of a descriptor and a reluctant one at that. The combination the "authoritative" rejection by the DSM 5 with overdiagnosis /wannabee memes has been devastating to morale. I notice a lot more I hate myself/Aspergers then a few months ago. I was going to post a whole angry stop internalizing ableism rant but I have come to realize it would be similar to blaming a crime victim instead of the criminal.

I think the US should just throw out the DSM and start using the ICD. They're mostly the same anyways, and the parts that aren't the same are probably better in the ICD. The WHO is more competent and trustworthy than the APA, in my opinion. The combined forces of the world have the potential to create more accurate and less biased diagnostic criteria than the US alone. The only reasons, that I can think of, that the US would want its own system of diagnostic criteria are narcissism and greater ability to take advantage of disordered and disabled people. The DSM does nothing but enable the government to abuse us.