Asperger's is out, but binge eating and hoarding are in as
official mental disorders in the latest version of the
diagnostic bible published by the American Psychiatric
Association, following a weekend vote by its board. The
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - whose
latest edition is nicknamed DSM-5 - is often called the "bible"
because it's used to identify and classify mental disorders. The
vote gives only a hint of the massive changes that will be
unveiled in detail in May when the guide is published. The last
full revision was in 1994, with minor changes approved in 2000.
The revisions have been considered for more than a decade. Among
the changes are: Eliminating the mild form of autism known as
Asperger's syndrome per se and including it as part of the
autism spectrum disorder; Adding binge eating, hoarding and
disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. The mood disorder would
diagnose children who experience outbursts at least three times
a week for more than a year. The impact of this