The Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is the text for diagnosis the array of mental illnesses. The manual covers everything from an overview to lists of specific symptoms individuals must meet in order to be given a diagnosis by a licensed professional. The publication of the new DSM-5 (the DSM-IV TR, or text revision, is the one in current use) is the most anticipated document in the mental health field. The DSM-5 makes some significant changes, including diagnostic criteria for: Autism and other Neurodevelopmental Disorders (intellectual, communication, learning, and motor disorders, and ADHD) Anxiety Disorders Depressive Disorders Obsessive-Compulsive and related disorders Personality Disorders Trauma and Stressor-related Disorders (including RAD and PTSD) Sexual Dysfunction and Gender Dysphoria Somatic Symptom Disorders Other areas of the DSM are being revised as well, and it seems like no stone is being left unturned with this new manual. Many people are in support of the revision, but others are very concerned about the changes. One of the biggest changes of the DSM-5 that causes concern is the revision of the autism definition. The diagnoses of Asperger's and PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified) are being eliminated, and everything will fall under the umbrella of the "Autism Spectrum Disorder." The New York Times published an article earlier in 2012 about a panel of experts who say many individuals with...

DSM-5 updates diagnosis criteria for mental disorders; includes autism spectrum changes, with public feedback invited until June 2012.

The Future of Diagnosis with DSM-5

 The Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is the text for diagnosis the array of mental illnesses. The manual covers everything from an overview to lists of specific symptoms individuals must meet in order to be given a diagnosis by a licensed professional. The publication of the new DSM-5 (the DSM-IV TR, or text revision, is the one in current use) is the most anticipated document in the mental health field.   The DSM-5 makes some significant changes, including diagnostic criteria for:    Autism and other Neurodevelopmental Disorders (intellectual, communication, learning, and motor disorders, and ADHD)   Anxiety Disorders   Depressive Disorders   Obsessive-Compulsive and related disorders   Personality Disorders   Trauma and Stressor-related Disorders (including RAD and PTSD)   Sexual Dysfunction and Gender Dysphoria   Somatic Symptom Disorders    Other areas of the DSM are being revised as well, and it seems like no stone is being left unturned with this new manual. Many people are in support of the revision, but others are very concerned about the changes.   One of the biggest changes of the DSM-5 that causes concern is the revision of the autism definition. The diagnoses of Asperger's and PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified) are being eliminated, and everything will fall under the umbrella of the "Autism Spectrum Disorder." The New York Times published an article earlier in 2012 about a panel of experts who say many individuals with...

People with disabilities have the same questions about bodies, relationships, and intimacy that everyone else does. They deserve the same access to education that helps them understand consent, recognize healthy boundaries, and navigate relationships safely. Yet many never receive it. The gap isn't theoretical. Research from UC Davis showed that after completing the Relationships Decoded curriculum, participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities improved their understanding of healthy relationships by 22%. That matters because people with IDD face disproportionate rates of sexual abuse compared to the general population, often because they've never been taught what consent looks like or how to recognize when someone is violating their boundaries. Why Sexuality Education Matters. Sexuality education for people with disabilities isn't about encouraging sexual activity. It's about safety, autonomy, and the ability to make informed decisions about your own body. Without it, people with disabilities are more likely to experience abuse. They may not recognize coercion, may struggle to articulate what happened to them, or may have been taught that compliance with authority figures is non-negotiable in all contexts. Education that covers consent, body autonomy, and healthy versus unhealthy relationship dynamics reduces that risk. It gives people the language to name what's happening and the framework to understand when something isn't right. Beyond abuse prevention, sexuality education supports people in understanding their own development, asking questions about their bodies without shame, and building relationships that are based on mutual respect rather than confusion or pressure. Starting education before puberty is most effective. Proper...

Sexuality education protects people with disabilities from abuse and supports healthy relationships, yet access is limited.

Sexuality Education for People with Disabilities: Why It Matters and Where to Find It

People with disabilities have the same questions about bodies, relationships, and intimacy that everyone else does. They deserve the same access to education that helps them understand consent, recognize healthy boundaries, and navigate relationships safely. Yet many never receive it. The gap isn't theoretical. Research from UC Davis showed that after completing the Relationships Decoded curriculum, participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities improved their understanding of healthy relationships by 22%. That matters because people with IDD face disproportionate rates of sexual abuse compared to the general population, often because they've never been taught what consent looks like or how to recognize when someone is violating their boundaries. Why Sexuality Education Matters. Sexuality education for people with disabilities isn't about encouraging sexual activity. It's about safety, autonomy, and the ability to make informed decisions about your own body. Without it, people with disabilities are more likely to experience abuse. They may not recognize coercion, may struggle to articulate what happened to them, or may have been taught that compliance with authority figures is non-negotiable in all contexts. Education that covers consent, body autonomy, and healthy versus unhealthy relationship dynamics reduces that risk. It gives people the language to name what's happening and the framework to understand when something isn't right. Beyond abuse prevention, sexuality education supports people in understanding their own development, asking questions about their bodies without shame, and building relationships that are based on mutual respect rather than confusion or pressure. Starting education before puberty is most effective. Proper...

Marilyn Monroe is just as famous now as she was before her death in 1962. The NBC hit series SMASH focuses on the life of the young actress who died when she was 36, of an apparent suicide. Love, Marilyn is a unique documentary about Marilyn mostly in her own words from documents and audio tapes that have recently surfaced. She wrote in journals and notebooks her thoughts, experiences, and even poems. Viewers will see her own handwriting, as the text is being read aloud by performers like Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Burstyn, Glenn Close, Hope Davis, Viola Davis, Marisa Tomei, Even Rachel Wood, Lindsey Lohan, Adrien Brody, F. Murray Abraham, Jeremy Piven, and many more. In this documentary, which consists of commentary, journal readings, and audio and video clips, the dichotomy that was Marilyn Monroe surfaces in a more direct way than ever before. Marilyn (Norma Jean) knew Marilyn Monroe was an invention and she felt Marilyn Monroe was a separate entity from her real self. But how could she live her life without Marilyn Monroe? Monroe was whom the public wanted. This troubled and tormented young woman is an example of complex emotions, behavior, and a series of bad and sad personal relationships and experiences. After watching Love, Marilyn, viewers will feel a little closer to the complicated woman and her very strange yet public life. Her sexual life is not skipped over; however if you are looking for a scoop about JFK, forget about it. That relationship...

'Love, Marilyn' on HBO reveals Monroe's life through her writings, with star-studded narration, excluding her JFK affair.

Love, Marilyn on HBO

Marilyn Monroe is just as famous now as she was before her death in 1962. The NBC hit series SMASH focuses on the life of the young actress who died when she was 36, of an apparent suicide. Love, Marilyn is a unique documentary about Marilyn mostly in her own words from documents and audio tapes that have recently surfaced. She wrote in journals and notebooks her thoughts, experiences, and even poems. Viewers will see her own handwriting, as the text is being read aloud by performers like Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Burstyn, Glenn Close, Hope Davis, Viola Davis, Marisa Tomei, Even Rachel Wood, Lindsey Lohan, Adrien Brody, F. Murray Abraham, Jeremy Piven, and many more.  In this documentary, which consists of commentary, journal readings, and audio and video clips, the dichotomy that was Marilyn Monroe surfaces in a more direct way than ever before. Marilyn (Norma Jean) knew Marilyn Monroe was an invention and she felt Marilyn Monroe was a separate entity from her real self. But how could she live her life without Marilyn Monroe? Monroe was whom the public wanted. This troubled and tormented young woman is an example of complex emotions, behavior, and a series of bad and sad personal relationships and experiences. After watching Love, Marilyn, viewers will feel a little closer to the complicated woman and her very strange yet public life. Her sexual life is not skipped over; however if you are looking for a scoop about JFK, forget about it. That relationship...

... continued from here The Children The root cause of RAD is abandonment trauma or failure to attach. Physical abuse and sexual abuse are much easier to treat than a core, learned belief that one is worthless or bad. Most of the children have been misdiagnosed already and prescribed inappropriate medication that didn't work, and the worst part about this is that they have lost precious time. The younger they are when I get them the more successful our work. Time is of the essence, and bonding is supposed to take place in the very young. Many people think violent children are bad seeds and their parents are victims of these children, not realizing that these violent children suffer excruciating injuries at a very young age. Each of these children is unique and different. Some are arrogant. Most of these children who kill are boys, however we are having an epidemic of "mean girls", too. After the attachment trauma, boys are often disciplined more harshly for their defiance and disrespect of authority. They often engage with other RAD children and begin competing for top dog, and at some point, testosterone kicks in. Some RAD kids are profoundly self-conscious, like most of the mass murdering shooters we recently read about. Some cannot bear to be touched. Some are highly sensitive to certain sounds. All initially refuse eye contact, unless it's on their terms. They have come to believe there is something wrong...

Article explores RAD children's trauma, medication risks, and parent roles in their pathology and potential recovery.

I Am Adam Lanza's Therapist: The Children, The Moms

 ... continued from here       The Children   The root cause of RAD is abandonment trauma or failure to attach. Physical abuse and sexual abuse are much easier to treat than a core, learned belief that one is worthless or bad. Most of the children have been misdiagnosed already and prescribed inappropriate medication that didn't work, and the worst part about this is that they have lost precious time. The younger they are when I get them the more successful our work. Time is of the essence, and bonding is supposed to take place in the very young. Many people think violent children are bad seeds and their parents are victims of these children, not realizing that these violent children suffer excruciating injuries at a very young age. Each of these children is unique and different. Some are arrogant. Most of these children who kill are boys, however we are having an epidemic of "mean girls", too. After the attachment trauma, boys are often disciplined more harshly for their defiance and disrespect of authority. They often engage with other RAD children and begin competing for top dog, and at some point, testosterone kicks in. Some RAD kids are profoundly self-conscious, like most of the mass murdering shooters we recently read about. Some cannot bear to be touched. Some are highly sensitive to certain sounds. All initially refuse eye contact, unless it's on their terms. They have come to believe there is something wrong...

One of the most insidious and disturbing behaviors teens engage in is cutting. Cutting is a form of self-punishment by people afflicted with ongoing feelings of guilt, confusion, anger, or overwhelming pain. In many cases, cutting is correlated with a history of sexual abuse, substance abuse, eating disorders, and obsessive- compulsive behaviors. The statistics are one in every 200 adolescent girls between the ages of 13 and 19, regularly cut. Even though cutters are primarily teenage females, the disorder also affects males.People who self-injure have not learned to identify, express, or release their emotions. They may have adopted self-injury as a strategy for getting relief from intense unexpressed feelings. They are unduly critical and shameful, which then leads to self-punishment for their perceived transgressions. Cutting can develop into a compulsive behavior, much like an addiction, to cope with life’s ups and downs. The release of endorphins during cutting produce a “high” that cutters associate with the experience. Cutting is not necessarily associated with suicidality. Although, there is potential for life threatening injuries when cuts are deep or become infected. Cutters often end up in the emergency room. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for groups of teens to cut and try to pressure others into this behavior to appear tough and cool.What teen cutters and those pressured to cut need most, is support. Since cutting is associated with shame, the shock, anger and revulsion of family and friends can further isolate the cutter.Several teens from a local treatment facility gave some...

Article offers strategies to help teens stop cutting, a behavior often linked to trauma and used as a coping mechanism.

A Growing Epidemic for Kids: Help Your Child Stop Cutting

One of the most insidious and disturbing behaviors teens engage in is cutting. Cutting is a form of self-punishment by people afflicted with ongoing feelings of guilt, confusion, anger, or overwhelming pain. In many cases, cutting is correlated with a history of sexual abuse, substance abuse, eating disorders, and obsessive- compulsive behaviors. The statistics are one in every 200 adolescent girls between the ages of 13 and 19, regularly cut. Even though cutters are primarily teenage females, the disorder also affects males.People who self-injure have not learned to identify, express, or release their emotions. They may have adopted self-injury as a strategy for getting relief from intense unexpressed feelings. They are unduly critical and shameful, which then leads to self-punishment for their perceived transgressions. Cutting can develop into a compulsive behavior, much like an addiction, to cope with life’s ups and downs. The release of endorphins during cutting produce a “high” that cutters associate with the experience. Cutting is not necessarily associated with suicidality. Although, there is potential for life threatening injuries when cuts are deep or become infected. Cutters often end up in the emergency room. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for groups of teens to cut and try to pressure others into this behavior to appear tough and cool.What teen cutters and those pressured to cut need most, is support. Since cutting is associated with shame, the shock, anger and revulsion of family and friends can further isolate the cutter.Several teens from a local treatment facility gave some...

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Special Needs
Articles

The Future of Diagnosis with DSM-5

Sexuality Education for People with Disabilities: Why It Matters and Where to Find It

Love, Marilyn on HBO

I Am Adam Lanza's Therapist: The Children, The Moms

A Growing Epidemic for Kids: Help Your Child Stop Cutting

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs Articles

The Future of Diagnosis with DSM-5

Sexuality Education for People with Disabilities: Why It Matters and Where to Find It

Love, Marilyn on HBO

I Am Adam Lanza's Therapist: The Children, The Moms

A Growing Epidemic for Kids: Help Your Child Stop Cutting

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
Articles