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Asperger's Coming Out of Our Ears: Making Sense of a Modern Epidemic
Author(s) -
Stiefel Ingeborg,
Shields Alexandra K.,
Swain Michelle A.,
Innes Waverney R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.297
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 1467-8438
pISSN - 0814-723X
DOI - 10.1375/anft.29.1.1
Subject(s) - generosity , compromise , popularity , psychology , asperger syndrome , field (mathematics) , social psychology , developmental psychology , autism , sociology , law , social science , political science , mathematics , pure mathematics
Asperger's syndrome (AS) as a diagnostic category has gained enormous popularity and the label is being applied with increasing liberality. While greater awareness of the disorder may be of advantage to certain children and their families, we argue that the over‐inclusive use of the diagnosis may also lead to professional conflicts and ethical dilemmas. Perhaps most concerning of these is that diagnostic ‘generosity’ may exclude children from treatments they would have received if an alternative formulation had been considered. We present clinical scenarios, with special consideration of contextual and intergenerational influences on the children's early lives, and offer alternative conceptualisations. We argue that the new ‘epidemic’ of Asperger's should not be allowed to compromise our professional standards. Assessment should always include a detailed family and developmental history. Finally, we would be interested in feedback from clinicians working in this field.