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National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
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NAASCA Highlights
EDITOR'S NOTE: Occasionally we bring you articles from local newspapers, web sites and other sources that constitute but a small percentage of the information available to those who are interested in the issues of child abuse and recovery from it.
We also present original articles we hope will inform the community ... |
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Diagnostic and Statistical Manual being Updated
Still
may not include trauma from child abuse
A Call to ACTION -- Developmental Trauma Disorder should be recognized
EDITOR'S NOTE: Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD), dramatically interferes with a child's development has serious ramifications that continue on into adulthood, where its symptoms are often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. DTD typically thwarts normal emotional and social development for decades and manifests in many ways. Millions of adult survivors can attest that DTD should be listed in the new DSM-5 as a disorder that deserves recognition and treatment.
This request for a "Call to Action" is time sensitive, and will be relevant for the next week (through June 15th). One of our NAASCA members, a senior-citizen survivor who's been on her healing journey for several decades, asked that I post the following article for her. She's long been convinced that her recovery has been frustrated by the lack of acknowledgement that many of her adult problems stem from the traumatic experiences she had as a child. |
EDITOR'S NOTE continued: This is not a new issue. The study of DTD and the proposal to include it in the DSM has been going on for quite some time. For example, here's an article from the American Psychological Association (March 2007) where the issue was discussed earlier: APA article, March 2007
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LAST MINUTE ALERT !
CALL TO ACTION !!
Developmental Trauma Disorder should be recognized in newest DSM
OPINION by ANOTHER SURVIVOR IN RECOVERY
June 10, 2012
The current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-4) does NOT recognize the effects of trauma from child abuse. Neither will the newest DSM-5, to be published next year .. unless enough people take action NOW.
However the American Psychological Association (APA), which publishes the document, is open to comments until next week -- till June 15, 2012.
IF YOU CAN PLEASE COMMENT!
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is used by mental health professionals to diagnose and label mental conditions, used for billing purposes or to hospitalize people. But it does not recognize that childhood trauma interferes with normal emotional and social development.
Because of this, survivors are often labeled as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), BiPolar/manic-depression, or PTSD which is not enough!
Some professionals have been working to change these designations for more than 25 years, doing research and clinical work. They previously listed it as DESNOS, disorders of extreme stress, and Complex PTSD.
Recently they started using the term Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD), having realized that trauma interferes with a child's development. They've been advocating its inclusion in the DSM to get more appropriate treatment.
Unfortunately, the resistance from some quarters is great.
A recent article in TIME Magazine (January 20) on the DSM 5, specifically about an aim to re-defining autism, indicated there were numerous battles brewing.
My counselor handed me a copy of an article from the (April/May 2010) Psychotherapy Networker -- The Long Shadow of Trauma -- which describes the conflict in greater detail.
It's also discussed on the web site of The Trauma Center in Brookline, Massachusetts.
If DTD (Developmental Trauma Disorder) isn't included in the DSM-5 next year, another 10 years could pass before it's changed. We need a proper diagnosis and understanding of the effects of child abuse and molestation to get more appropriate treatment.
PLEASE .. GO TO the APA web site -- www.dsm5.org/Pages/Default.aspx -- and leave your comments. NOTE: to "Comment" you must register (top right) and can comment on the pages of the various disorders listed at the bottom of the home page.
After logging in, please go to the bottom of the page and select "Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders" and leave your comments about DTD, which is not discussed elsewhere on the site, under "G 05 Trauma- or Stressor- Related Disorder Not Elsewhere Classified."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Here's what I (Bill Murray) left as a comment. Feel free to use it or something similar:
| Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD), dramatically interferes with a child's development and has serious ramifications that continue on into adulthood, where its multiple symptoms are often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. DTD typically thwarts normal emotional and social development for decades and manifests in many ways. Millions of adult survivors can attest that DTD should be listed in the new DSM-5 as a disorder that deserves recognition and treatment. |
At the very least, please say in your comments that
Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD) should be included in Section III for further serious research. |
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