The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has released a draft of the proposed diagnostic criteria for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), expected to be finalized and published in 2013. The public is encouraged to review the current draft and offers comments via the DSM-5 Web site by April 20.

To view and comment on the proposed changes, go here. The National TSA’s position on the proposed changes is available here.

The diagnostic criteria in the DSM are used widely by physicians, insurance companies, and other professionals for diagnosing medical conditions and managing medical-care reimbursements for individuals with neuropsychological disorders, including Tourette syndrome.

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Commenting Instructions

At the home page of the APA’s DSM-5 Web site, you should see a list in the center of the page. Find and click on this item: “Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence.”

Scroll down the new page. Toward the bottom, you should see “Tic Disorders.” Click on “307.23 Tourette’s Disorder.”

Again, scroll down the new page until you see the option: “Register Now.”

After clicking “Register Now,” fill in the form with your name and contact information; answer the security question and submit the page.

You will be sent an email with a temporary password.

Once you have this temporary password, go back to the APA’s DSM-5 Web site and log in (at the top, right-hand side of the screen) with your username and the password that was emailed to you.

After logging in, you will be taken back to the home page of the APA DSM-5 Web site. Again, click on “Disorders Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence” and then “307.23 Tourette’s Disorder.”

At this point, now that you’re registered, you should see a comment box at the bottom of the screen. Type in your comment, answer the security question, and submit your comment. You should receive a confirmation saying that your comment has been submitted.