Potential Ramifications of DSM-5 Classification of Autistic Disorders: Comments from a Clinician’s Perspective

I write in response to the recent Editorials, “DSM-5 Conceptualization of Autistic Disorders,” (Skuse 2012) the “Commentary from the DSM-V Workgroup on Neurodevelopmental Disorders” (Swedo et al. 2012) and the study on the “Sensitivity and Specificity of Proposed DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Autistic Spectrum,” (McPartland et al. 2012). I would like to express my perspective as a community based clinician who has directed a therapeutic group program for young children with Asperger’s Disorder, PDD-NOS, and related disorders. (Leventhal-Belfer and Coe 2004; Leventhal-Belfer et al. 2012. …