Current Trends in Researcher Methodology Regarding the Asperger's Disorder Diagnosis: Implications for the DSM-5 Revision

Author

Hannah E. Morton

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Keeley, Jared W.

Committee Member

Armstrong, Kevin J.

Committee Member

Eakin, Deborah K.

Date of Degree

8-11-2012

Original embargo terms

MSU Only Indefinitely

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Campus Access Only

Major

Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Psychology

Abstract

Presently, the DSM is undergoing revision in anticipation of the publication of the DSM-5 in 2013 (APA, 2010a). The Neurodevelopmental Disorders DSM-5 workgroup has suggested that Asperger’s Disorder (AS) and Autistic Disorder (AD) be subsumed into a new, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis (APA, 2010b). This project reviews researcher methodologies for the description, study inclusion/exclusion, and assessment of individuals with AS and AD in 100 highly cited articles from high-impact journals. Results demonstrate that researchers’ methodologies are highly variable. Additionally, all researchers do not use the “gold standard” combination of the ADOS and the ADI-R for assessing AS and AD. The use of inconsistent and potentially inappropriate methodologies in the literature suggests it may be preemptive to base the proposed DSM-5 revision on the incomparable results in the research.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/19826

Recommended Citation

Morton, Hannah E., "Current Trends in Researcher Methodology Regarding the Asperger's Disorder Diagnosis: Implications for the DSM-5 Revision" (2012). Theses and Dissertations. 1240.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/1240