7/30/2019 Dsm 5 Social Communication Fact Sheet

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Social (Pragmatic)Communication Disorder

The new diagnosis of social (pragmac) communicaon disorder (SCD) in the h edion of the Diag-

nosc and Stascal Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) will more accurately recognize individuals

who have signicant problems using verbal and nonverbal communicaon for social purposes, leadingto impairments in their ability to eecvely communicate, parcipate socially, maintain social relaon-

ships, or otherwise perform academically or occupaonally. Previous edions of DSM did not provide an

appropriate diagnosis for people with such symptoms, which led to inconsistent treatment across clinics

and treatment centers. For these individuals, SCD brings their social and communicaon decits out of

the shadows of a not otherwise specied label to help them get the services and treatment they need.

Characteristics of the DisorderSCD is characterized by a persistent diculty with verbal and nonverbal communicaon that cannot be

explained by low cognive ability. Symptoms include diculty in the acquision and use of spoken and

wrien language as well as problems with inappropriate responses in conversaon. The disorder limitseecve communicaon, social relaonships, academic achievement, or occupaonal performance.

Symptoms must be present in early childhood even if they are not recognized unl later when speech,

language, or communicaon demands exceed abilies.

Process for a New Diagnosis

New diagnoses were included in DSM-5 only aer a comprehensive review of the scienc literature;

full discussion by Work Group members; review by the DSM-5 Task Force, Scienc Review Commiee,

and Clinical and Public Health Commiee; and, nally, evaluaon by the American Psychiatric Associa-

ons Board of Trustees. Trustees approved the nal diagnosc criteria for DSM-5 in December 2012.

Improving Diagnosis and CareWhile previous edions of DSM included diagnoses with related symptoms, the SCD diagnosis was

needed to ensure that the unique needs of aected individuals are met. For example, while ausm

spectrum disorder (ASD) does encompass communicaon problems, it also includes restricted, repe-

ve paerns of behavior, interests or acvies and gives equal weight to both communicaon issues

and repeve behaviors. ASD must be ruled out for SCD to be diagnosed.

Because the symptoms described in SCD were not dened in previous edions of DSM, many individu-

als with such symptoms may have been lumped under the not otherwise specied category of perva-

sive development disorder. This led to inconsistent treatment and services across dierent clinics and

pracces. Research shows that communicaon disorders are amenable to treatment, so idenfying

disnct communicaon problems are an important rst step in geng people appropriate care.

DSM is the manual used by clinicians and researchers to diagnose and classify mental disorders. The American Psychiatric

Associaon (APA) will publish DSM-5 in 2013, culminang a 14-year revision process.

APA is a naonal medical specialty society whose more than 36,000 physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treat-

ment, prevenon and research of mental illnesses, including substance use disorders. Visit the APA at www.psychiatry.org.

For more informaon, please contact Eve Herold at 703-907-8640 or press@psych.org.

2013 American Psychiatric Associaon

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