Included in the proposal is the combination of all autistic disorders into one single entry for Autistic Spectrum Disorders – as well as the consolidation of certain psychotic conditions, and a new category for Psychosis Risk, intended to help treat patients earlier rather than once the problems have overtaken them.  There will be rules enstated in order to prevent overdiagnosis…so they say.

I happen to think in some ways this is a step in the right direction, because the DSM was becoming cluttered with 1,001 different disorders when many of them seem to be aspects of the same few things.  Having a risk category could possibly be useful, too – particularly for people who are trying to understand extra symptoms they may have without having a full-blown condition.

The obvious worry, though,  is that doctors may distort this and start prescribing drugs to people who really don’t need them and can get on fine in life without them.  It’s possible that we don’t need a new diagnosis for such things, but rather more public awareness of the truth that most people probably share some of these symptoms without even thinking about it.

They are also proposing to revamp the whole personality disorders section.  Reading their suggested amendments, it seems a good move.  It feels clearer and less extreme, allowing room for the notion that people with such conditions are human, like anyone else – fancy that!

You can read more about the changes in the Scientific American article, and whatever your view on the matter, please do get involved here.

Vrinda Pendred
Editor & Founder of Conditional Publications

I proudly present ‘Our Daily Meds’ by Melody Peterson.  This book exposes all the pharmaceutical industry horror stories I’m sure many of us are aware of, but in graphic detail we often turn a blind eye to because, well, it’s terrifying.

I heard about this on Madness Radio, when they interviewed the author – it seems an invluable book to look at, if we ever hope to overcome the pharmaceutical grip on today’s Western approach to health.  For more information, view the book on Amazon, or try listening to the interview on Madness Radio – a free podcast accessible via iTunes.

Vrinda Pendred
Editor & Founder of Conditional Publications

It discusses the much debated theory that conditions such as Tourette’s, OCD, Autism and ADHD are the result of autoimmune responses to strep infections in childhood. The theory goes that symptoms of such disorders are the result of an overactive immune response to the strep bacteria (presumably due to a genetic predisoposition).  Joining up the dots, I would say this holds some weight, considering how many people with such disorders seem to have a number of allergies – another overactive autoimmune response.

Mady Hornig at Columbia University is working with the original PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections) theorist, Susan Swedo, to carry out rigorous testing into this idea.  In recent research, they have begun injecting mice with strep bacteria and have learned they can induce anxiety and tics this way.  However, luckily they are looking into ways to apply this knowledge other than dosing us all up with Penicillin.

Vrinda Pendred
Editor & Founder of Conditional Publications