- http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/news/2012/studies-shore-up-proposed-guidelines-for-autism-diagnosis
- http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/news/2012/analysis-of-new-diagnostic-criteria-for-autism-sparks-debate
- http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/conference-news/2012/international-meeting-for-autism-research-2012/new-report-finds-dsm-5-criteria-unlikely-to-exclude-many
- http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/news/2012/proposed-guidelines-wont-miss-autism-cases-study-says
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Studies shore up proposed guidelines for autism diagnosis – 1/12/12 Analysis of new diagnostic criteria for autism sparks debate – 4/2/12 New report finds DSM-5 criteria unlikely to exclude many – 5/24/12 Proposed guidelines won’t miss autism cases, study says – 10/1/12
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
New guidelines for diagnosing autism have triggered controversy among both scientists and the general public. A handful of studies suggest the new criteria will exclude some people currently diagnosed with autism, an issue of great concern to families because it could limit access to services. But others say this isn’t the case, and that the changes are grounded in the latest research. SFARI.org has followed the debate all year, carefully explaining the evidence, its limitations, and the potential implications for both researchers and families.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
I examined scientific publications of various studies, as well as the existing and proposed versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Explain types of human sources used.
I interviewed scientists involved in the studies, as well as clinical experts in the field.
Results:
N/A
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
We have not run any corrections or clarifications on these stories. We continue to follow the development of this story, including approval of the new guidelines by the American Psychiatric Association in December, and their upcoming publication, scheduled for May 2013.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
It’s always tempting to write a disaster story, such as how a new policy will limit access to healthcare. But it’s worth digging deeper to look at the basis for those predictions. It’s also interesting to follow how experts’ opinions change over time. In this case, a number of people in the field were worried that changes to the diagnostic guidelines would reduce the number of people diagnosed with autism. But as additional evidence accumulated, a number of them changed their minds.