Let's talk about mental illness

[Symmetry]

The latest edition of the manual for psychiatry took aspergers off as a diagnosis, preferring instead to put it on spectrum of autism.

Indeed it is often referred to as high functioning autism,as Aspies are quite often outstanding in their chosen fields.

Yeah- I taught a fair few kids on the autistic spectrum. I don't personally think Aspergers has been a particularly useful diagnosis as it kind of cuts itself off from autism as if it's serperate, and gets associated with the idea of an idiot-savante, or treats them as if they can't get help for their autism.

Plus, as a fair few posters have pointed out, self-diagnosis of Aspergers is increasingly common. It really doesn't help when you meet someone with autism for there to be a bunch of people who just feel awkward and a bit shy self-diagnising as high-functioning autistics.

The idea of there being a spectrum, which most people are on, seems like a better way of approaching the problem.

[thegreekdog]

I have no idea what can be done or what should be done. On the one hand, there is a sense that society should be protected from individuals that may or can or will pose a danger to society. On the other hand, I'm not a fan of someone determining who is the individual that may, can, or will post a danger to society based on past actions.

[Symmetry]

I have no idea what can be done or what should be done. On the one hand, there is a sense that society should be protected from individuals that may or can or will pose a danger to society. On the other hand, I'm not a fan of someone determining who is the individual that may, can, or will post a danger to society based on past actions.

Well put, i think part of the problem is the stigma attached to it. The kind of diagnosis that bothers you seems to be after an action has been performed. Preventative actions are clearly important, and that involves recognising mental illness early and not attaching a stigma to it.

[john9blue]

sub-Aspergers

...really?

[pimpdave]

[Phatscotty]

out of left field: about the toxicology reports. I imagine right about now, the big-pharm reps are already bribing the pharmacy to find out what drugs the kid was on, and finding a way to suppress the information to the public

[Funkyterrance]

The latest edition of the manual for psychiatry took aspergers off as a diagnosis, preferring instead to put it on spectrum of autism.

Indeed it is often referred to as high functioning autism,as Aspies are quite often outstanding in their chosen fields.[/quote]

Ya see, you're doing it again. I'm getting the impression that you feel Aspies are in some way superior to/different than "normal" people, aside from their "conditon". Again, they are just people. Thinking otherwise is prejudiced.
Thank you big bang theory for giving the viewing public a romantic yet distorted sense of Asbergers.

[chang50]

sub-Aspergers

...really?

Do you question the grammar of this expression,or my choice of words,I can't see any reason for either.The prefix can mean'not quite',I certainly did not mean to imply superiority if that is your objection.

[chang50]

The latest edition of the manual for psychiatry took aspergers off as a diagnosis, preferring instead to put it on spectrum of autism.

Indeed it is often referred to as high functioning autism,as Aspies are quite often outstanding in their chosen fields.

Ya see, you're doing it again. I'm getting the impression that you feel Aspies are in some way superior to/different than "normal" people, aside from their "conditon". Again, they are just people. Thinking otherwise is prejudiced.
Thank you big bang theory for giving the viewing public a romantic yet distorted sense of Asbergers.[/quote]

You've totally lost me here sorry.I can only tell you I've read a fair bit on the subject and I'm only repeating what I've learned.

[Symmetry]

Well this is confusing. The quote attributed to chang is mine. I've edited my post above as chang seems not to know how to use the reply button or quotation tags, and I awkwardly posted without editing his post so that it would make sense.

[Gillipig]

I know a lot about this topic !

[john9blue]

sub-Aspergers

...really?

Do you question the grammar of this expression,or my choice of words,I can't see any reason for either.

i agree with funky. asperger's is misunderstood even among aspies.

[stahrgazer]

I have no idea what can be done or what should be done. On the one hand, there is a sense that society should be protected from individuals that may or can or will pose a danger to society. On the other hand, I'm not a fan of someone determining who is the individual that may, can, or will post a danger to society based on past actions.

Well put, i think part of the problem is the stigma attached to it. The kind of diagnosis that bothers you seems to be after an action has been performed. Preventative actions are clearly important, and that involves recognising mental illness early and not attaching a stigma to it.

Sorry, but if someone has a mental illness that is pre-determined to be the type of mental illness that can result in sudden violent maniacal actions like taking on a classroom full of kindergartners/elementary students, you damned well better believe I'd attach a "stigma" to it!

Thing is, of folks with Asperger's, autism, this or that, NOT everyone have done acts like this, nor attempted to, nor threatened to; so is it really these syndromes that caused it? Maybe not. Maybe it was some other unidentified disorder that eventually science will be able to figure out.

So if they do... what would we do about folks who have the disorder who haven't (yet?) tried to commit such violent acts? Commit them "just in case?"

[Symmetry]

I have no idea what can be done or what should be done. On the one hand, there is a sense that society should be protected from individuals that may or can or will pose a danger to society. On the other hand, I'm not a fan of someone determining who is the individual that may, can, or will post a danger to society based on past actions.

Well put, i think part of the problem is the stigma attached to it. The kind of diagnosis that bothers you seems to be after an action has been performed. Preventative actions are clearly important, and that involves recognising mental illness early and not attaching a stigma to it.

Sorry, but if someone has a mental illness that is pre-determined to be the type of mental illness that can result in sudden violent maniacal actions like taking on a classroom full of kindergartners/elementary students, you damned well better believe I'd attach a "stigma" to it!

Thing is, of folks with Asperger's, autism, this or that, NOT everyone have done acts like this, nor attempted to, nor threatened to; so is it really these syndromes that caused it? Maybe not. Maybe it was some other unidentified disorder that eventually science will be able to figure out.

So if they do... what would we do about folks who have the disorder who haven't (yet?) tried to commit such violent acts? Commit them "just in case?"

But in this case, it's not clear if he had Asperger's or not, it's clear that the manual of psychology no longer considers it an accurate diagnosis, it was considered a developmental disorder rather than a mental illness, and even when it was diagnosed wasn't considered to be something that led to violence.

The NyTimes public editor has a good piece on how this has been reported:

Adam Lanza, Asperger’s and a Misleading Connection With Violence

[stahrgazer]

But in this case, it's not clear if he had Asperger's or not, it's clear that the manual of psychology no longer considers it an accurate diagnosis, it was considered a developmental disorder rather than a mental illness, and even when it was diagnosed wasn't considered to be something that led to violence.

The NyTimes public editor has a good piece on how this has been reported:

Adam Lanza, Asperger’s and a Misleading Connection With Violence

I didn't quote studies, but I did make that point.

Thing is, of folks with Asperger's, autism, this or that, NOT everyone have done acts like this, nor attempted to, nor threatened to; so is it really these syndromes that caused it?
Maybe not. Maybe it was some other unidentified disorder that eventually science will be able to figure out.