The effect of changing specific learning disorder criteria in the <em>DSM</em>–5 on adults.


The effect of changes to the diagnostic criteria for specific learning disorders in the most recent revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ([DSM]—5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) was studied. Individual intelligence and achievement test scores were retrieved from the archival files of 144 adults who presented to an outpatient clinic housed on a university campus with complaints of academic difficulties. The application of the DSM—IV discrepancy criterion was compared with the DSM—5 academic impairment criterion. Individuals were more likely to meet the DSM—5 criterion than the DSM—IV criterion. Changes at the intraindividual level, that is, moving from meeting the targeted DSM—IV criterion to not meeting the DSM—5 criterion and vice versa are also reported. The academic area of impairment most affected by the change in diagnostic criteria in this sample, at an intraindividual level, was reading. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)