PSYCH 270 Lecture Notes - Construct Validity, Asperger Syndrome, Thiomersal
Document Summary
Lecture notes 3/25/14: dsm 4 had 3 symptom domains, but the dsm 5 has 2 symptom domains. Merged social interaction and communication into one domain: have to have all 3, limited social reciprocity. Difficulty understanding non-verbal expressions: limited peer relationships. Behavior: must have at least 2, stereotyped or repetitive speech, motor movement, or use of objects, excessive adherence to routines, highly restricted, fixated interests, hyper or hypo reactivity to sensory input, controversies. Autism vs. asperger"s: dsm 5 combined autism, asperger"s, and pdd nos. In autism you have a history of language or cognitive delays: asperger"s was you did not have that history, no evidence of construct validity, no clinical utility, potential causes. Not due to changes in diagnostic criteria or practices. More likely causes: paternal age, rates are very high for fathers 51 and up, high genetic component. Genetic component becomes less important as paternal age goes up: risk increases if mother has viral or bacterial infection during pregnancy, treatment.
