Proposed Changes in Autism Definition in DSM-5
There has been widespread media coverage of the changes in the autism definition proposed for the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Unfortunately, the impact of these changes has not been formally assessed by the medical community. Narrowing the diagnostic criteria will likely affect access to care, which is often linked to formal diagnoses in educational and health care systems. Access should instead be linked to need and potential for benefit. However, until that date, understanding the impact of any change to diagnostic criteria should be part of the process.
More information on the proposed changes to DSM-5 can be found at www.dsm5.org. There will be a third and final opportunity to submit comments about the changes to the American Psychiatric Association’s work groups in spring of this year.
About the Mount Sinai Health System
Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with 48,000 employees working across seven hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 600 research and clinical labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time—discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.
Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients’ medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians and 11 free-standing joint-venture centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by Newsweek’s® “The World’s Best Smart Hospitals, Best in State Hospitals, World Best Hospitals and Best Specialty Hospitals” and by U.S. News & World Report's® “Best Hospitals” and “Best Children’s Hospitals.” The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report® “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll for 2024-2025.
For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
Mount Sinai Launches AI Small Molecule Drug Discovery Center
Apr 02, 2025 View All Press Releases
