CFIDS Association calls for expert input for DSM-5 submission

The US CFIDS Association calls for expert input for DSM-5 submission

Post #23 Shortlink: http://wp.me/pKrrB-Cl  

Image Source: Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, Nevada, November ‘09 Annual Meeting slide presentation, Francis Creed, MD, FRCP: Can We Now Explain Medically Unexplained Symptoms? See this posting

The March issue of CFIDSLink-e-News reports that the CFIDS Association of America is seeking input from outside experts into the DSM-5 public review process:

Extract:

“Advocacy Counts

“The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM) is being revised by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). The proposed revision, DSM5, has drawn media coverage and close scrutiny since its release on Feb. 10. Creation of a new category called “Complex Somatic Symptoms Disorder” is of particular concern to CFS patients and organizations. The Association is seeking input from outside experts and will submit a review of the biological abnormalities in CFS to APA. The APA will accept public comments until April 20.”

The DSM-5 Work Group for “Somatic Symptom Disorders” is proposing that Somatoform Disorders, Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Condition (PFAMC), and Factitious Disorders should be combined under a common rubric entitled “Somatic Symptom Disorders” and for a new classification “Complex Somatic Symptom Disorder (CSSD).”

The DSM-5 public review period runs from 10 February to 20 April, so there are just over six weeks during which stakeholders in DSM-5 – that’s members of the public, patient representation organisations, professionals and other end users can submit their responses.

Please take this opportunity to submit a response and to alert and encourage professionals and international patient organisations to participate. Key links are provided at the end of this posting.

The following UK organisations have so far been silent on the DSM-5 proposals.

All seven organisations have been contacted, today, for position statements on whether they intend to submit a response and if so, whether their responses will be published:

Action for M.E.
The ME Association:
AYME
The Young ME Sufferers Trust,
The 25% M.E. Group
Invest in ME: Intend to submit a response and to publish
ME Research UK

I would welcome copies of submissions from any patient organisations, professionals and advocates for publication on a dedicated page, here, on DSM-5 and ICD-11 Watch:

Go here to read Mary M. Schweitzer’s Submission to the Work Group for Somatic Symptom Disorders.

To submit a comment online register here:

APA’s new DSM-5 Development site: http://www.dsm5.org/Pages/Default.aspx

You can also register via a link at the bottom of each proposal, for example, at the bottom of this key page:

Complex Somatic Symptom Disorder (CSSD)

Note that if you are viewing proposals from this page:

http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/SomatoformDisorders.aspx

you won’t see the page for:

“Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Condition”

This is one of the DSM-IV categories that the Work Group is proposing should be combined with several other current categories under “Somatic Symptom Disorders”.

In order to view this page, the Proposed Revision, Rationale and other Tabs, or if you wished to submit a comment specifically in relation to this proposal, this is the URL:

316 Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Condition

http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=387

There are two key PDF documents associated with proposals for the DSM categories currently classified under “Somatoform Disorders”:

     Disorder Descriptions PDF: APA Somatic Symptom Disorders description January 29 2010

     Rationale PDF: APA DSM Validity Propositions 1-29-2010

These provide an overview of the new proposals and revisions and a “Justification of Criteria” rationale document. I would recommend downloading these if intending to make a submission.

Related information:

[1] APA’s new DSM-5 Development webpages

[2] Somatoform Disorders:
http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/SomatoformDisorders.aspx

[3] Complex Somatic Symptom Disorder (CSSD)  [Ed: Proposed new category]
http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=368

[4] Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Condition  [Ed: Proposed for revision]
http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=387

[5] Key PDF documents:

PDF A] Somatic Symptom Disorders Introduction DRAFT 1/29/10
http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/Somatic/APA%20Somatic%20Symptom%20Disorders%20description%20January29%202010.pdf

PDF B] Justification of Criteria – Somatic Symptoms DRAFT 1/29/10
http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/Somatic/APA%20DSM%20Validity%20Propositions%201-29-2010.pdf

[6] For more information see my DSM-5 and ICD-11 Watch site, DSM-5 proposals page: http://wp.me/PKrrB-jZ