New Autism Definition Can Reduce Diagnoses and Leave Children Without Proper Care

Back in May 2013, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) issued new diagnosis guidelines for autism spectrum disorder. These new guidelines could pose a serious issue if thousands of previously qualified ASD patients are not treated properly.

Columbia University sought to look into the effects of the new diagnosis guidelines through a study led by Kristine M. Kulage, MA, MPH, and the Director of the Office of Scholarship and Research Development at Columbia Nursing. The new guidelines can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

The new diagnosis guidelines primarily focus on Autistic Disorder, encompassing "qualitative impairment in social interaction", "qualitative impairment in communication", and "restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities," according to the CDC website. This new manual has eliminated previous subgroups that fell under the broad definition of ASD.

"We are potentially going to lose diagnosis and treatment for some of the most vulnerable kids who have developmental delays," said Ms. Kulage in a news release. "In many instances, children require a diagnosis of ASD to receive medical benefits, educational support and social services."

The APA's new manual entitled "DSM-5" has eliminated the subgroups of autistic disorder (AD), Asperger's Disorder, and pervasive development disorder. These were previously under the umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorder, but now the guidelines have been more condensed, which will cause misdiagnoses or overlook patients with potential symptoms.

The study, "How Will DSM-5 Affect Autism Diagnosis? A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis" appears in this month's issue of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Kulage and her team of researchers discuss their concerns with the new diagnosis guidelines and the potential effects it can have on the autistic children in the United States. Approximately 1 in 88 children have ASD and some may be neglected based on the APA's new criteria.