The World of Dr. Baughman – Asperger’s Syndrome Does Not Exist
In the “World According to Baughman,” Asperger’s Syndrome is another one of those nonsensical psychiatric “diseases.” For those of you who prefer to remain deluded by the psychiatric community, you may want to amuse yourself by visiting the Asperger Society website. Sent: Monday, August 18, 2003 9:22 PM Subject: Asperger’s Syndrome? Dr. Baughman, Are you familiar with a new “pervasive developmental disorder” called Asperger’s Syndrome? Apparently, if a subject does not enjoy making vacuous small talk about pop culture, has interests which differ from an (unspecified) approved list or shows in-depth interest in any topic, displays “excessive” knowledge while answering a question, is not overly concerned with what others think and is resistant to peer pressure, then the subject is considered to have a disability and in need of psychotropic drug therapy. It seems as though admirable qualities of an independent, serious minded, intelligent mature individual have now been turned, Orwellian style, into deficiencies which require drastic remediation. I have found your commentary on ADHD quite useful and was wondering what you thought of Asperger’s Syndrome. Could you comment? Sign me, A Concerned Parent ####@aol.com [Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD: this variant of autism is not associated with a demonstrable brain/body abnormality, is not a disease/abnormality, does not therefore require, justify medical treatment. fb] Source: http://www.adhdfraud.org/emails/082103-3.htm
Has anyone else ever thought that perhaps Dr. Baughman doth protest too much?
I mean, why would anyone put so much time and energy into denying ADHD and other brain conditions?
The term “oppositional defiance” does come to mind….;-)
Gina
J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2001 Jun;29(3):263-71.
Does DSM-IV Asperger’s disorder exist?
Mayes SD, Calhoun SL, Crites DL.
Department of Psychiatry, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, USA.
DSM-IV criteria for autistic and Asperger’s disorders were applied to 157 children with clinical diagnoses of autism or Asperger’s disorder. All children met the DSM-IV criteria for autistic disorder and none met criteria for Asperger’s disorder, including those with normal intelligence and absence of early speech delay. The reason for this was that all children had social impairment and restricted and repetitive behavior and interests (required DSM-IV symptoms for both autistic and Asperger’s disorders) and all had a DSM-IV communication impairment (which then qualified them for a diagnosis of autistic disorder and not Asperger’s disorder). Communication problems exhibited by all children were impaired conversational speech or repetitive, stereotyped, or idiosyncratic speech (or both), which are DSM-IV criteria for autism. These findings are consistent with those of 5 other studies and indicate that a DSM-IV diagnosis of Asperger’s disorder is unlikely or impossible.
PMID: 11411788 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11411788
Gilbert,
Perhaps you can explain this further. Does this mean that the current definition of Asperger’s is one that could not exist “in the real world”? Or is it that the DSM-IV definition of Asperger’s is so narrow that few would be considered to have Asperger’s?
Jeff,
I guess this is an appropriate answer to your question:
“There is no specific test for Aspergers. There is no medical test, no genetic test, no definitive psychological test for Aspergers. Aspergers is defined and diagnosed behaviorally. There are quizzes and questionnaires where people with Asperger syndrome will on average score higher or lower than the rest of the population, but in themselves they are not adequate for a diagnosis by themselves. That means that someone who is trained in Autism Spectrum Disorders generally and who has specific experience with Aspergers must get to know a person and through their observations and interviews come to make the diagnosis based on those experiences.”
http://www.behavior-consultant.com/as1.htm
P.S. The DSM IV criteria for Asperger’s Syndrome are different from those used by Attwood.
http://www.behavior-consultant.com/as1.htm#Attwood
Gilbert,
Thanks so much. That definitely clarifies things.
I think I love you. Having the Asperger Syndrome diagnosis has stunted my childhood and made me a victim.
On “Asperger Syndrome” as an Autistic Spectrum Disorder: I have met people with autism and in a nutshell I can’t understand them because they are incapable of communicating their ideas to other people. People diagnosed with “Asperger Syndrome” don’t actually have that problem. They’re just a little weird.
And honestly, what is wrong with a little weirdness?
All “Asperger Syndrome” is another reincarnation of the Child Psychiatric Labeling Trend. (Another incarnation is ADD/ADHD) Spread the word. Save future schoolchildren. Support the Anti Psychiatric Labeling Movement.