| The DSM or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of | | | | Option #3: Make a totally new DSM diagnosis |
| Mental Disorders is a manual published by the | | | | called Attention Deficit Disorder. None of the |
| American Psychiatric Association. The manual is a | | | | diagnostic criteria for hyperactive or impulsive |
| tool used by researchers, insurance companies, | | | | symptoms would be used to define this diagnosis. |
| and physicians to identify mental illnesses in both | | | | Option one would lump many of the current |
| adults and children and it is currently undergoing | | | | ADHD-PI types into the combined type category, |
| revision. The new manual is due out in 2013 and | | | | this is consistent with what Dr. Russell Barkley |
| includes some potentially important changes for | | | | supports. He believes that most of the folks with |
| the Predominantly Inattentive category of ADHD | | | | ADHD-PI are really combined types that are |
| (ADHD-PI). Two of the proposed changes would | | | | missing just a few hyperactive or impulsive |
| give folks currently categorized and ADHD-PI, a | | | | symptoms. I totally disagree with this option. |
| home of their own sort of speak. | | | | Option two, (RPI), would be similar to what we |
| Having Inattentive ADD in its own category is a | | | | have now except that individuals with |
| huge deal. There has been very little research | | | | predominantly inattentive symptoms would be |
| done on this sub-type of ADHD and this would | | | | clearly defined as having very few hyperactive |
| change if the condition had a separate DSM code. | | | | impulsive (HI) symptoms. I believe that folks with |
| Research dollars and pharmaceutical study dollars | | | | more than 3 HI symptoms are currently treated |
| are often doled out only if there is a | | | | as combined ADHD types. So though they say |
| corresponding DSM code. | | | | that this would bring us to four subtypes, I |
| The primary purpose of the DSM is to provide | | | | believe that there still would be, in actual practice, |
| professionals in the mental health community a | | | | only three. The Hyperactive Impulsive type, the |
| written description of the characteristics and | | | | Combined type, and RPI type. This option would |
| symptoms of every mental health condition. The | | | | better define the predominantly inattentive type. |
| manual is necessary for there be consistency and | | | | If the Predominantly Inattentive subtype of |
| agreement among providers and researchers | | | | ADHD is to receive the research dollars |
| regarding what defines a certain mental health | | | | necessary to fully investigate this process, it must |
| condition. The current DSM IV was published in | | | | be adequately described, properly coded in the |
| 1994 and is considered the sacred book of | | | | DSM V, and given a category or home of their |
| psychiatric diagnosing. It is used around the world | | | | own. Option three would get the "RPI" types out |
| to identify mental illness. | | | | of the ADHD bag all together and move those of |
| I went onto the American Psychiatric Association | | | | us with ADHD-PI closer to having a home of our |
| webpage and this is what they are proposing. | | | | own. |
| There are essentially three options with regards | | | | It has been said by a physician many times that |
| to how the new manual will handle Inattention | | | | getting the right treatment, always depends on |
| without hyperactivity or impulsiveness. | | | | having the right diagnosis. There has been some |
| Option #1: Use the existing definition and allow for | | | | pretty good evidence that the risk factors, |
| up to 5 Hyperactive/Impulsive criteria in the | | | | co-morbididy, genetics, and treatment of |
| definition of Predominantly Inattentive. | | | | individuals with predominantly inattentive ADHD |
| Option #2: Make a 4th category in the general | | | | are different than for the other subtypes of |
| ADHD diagnosis called RPI (restrictive | | | | ADHD. I think that giving the predominantly |
| predominantly inattentive) which would be for | | | | inattentive subtype its own DSM category would |
| folks with no more that 2 hyperactive/impulsive | | | | allow for more identification, study, and |
| symptoms. | | | | appropriate treatment of this condition. |