The document explores the intersection between existential psychotherapy and clinical psychopathology, particularly focusing on autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It discusses the impact of various diagnoses on identity and agency, highlighting the importance of recognition and acceptance within the autistic community. Additionally, the document addresses controversies surrounding proposed changes to autism classifications in diagnostic manuals and the significance of bravery in public self-identification as autistic.

1. Existential Psychopathology: A possible
Relationship? (Psicoterapia Existencial
y Psicopatología Clínica): ¿Una relación
posible?
Digby Tantam

3. First cousins of the Queen in
hospital since 1941. Burke’s
Peerage stated that
Katherine (below) died in 63,
but she is still alive

5. Paralympic classification C14
• An IQ below 75
• Impairment in adaptive functioning - for example, social,
domestic and communication skills
• The disability must have occurred before the age of 18

6. Jeffrey Ige C14 weight lifter

9. Gaze following and
the interbrain

10. Jessica Kingsley, 2012

11. Autism spectrum disorder, DSM5 criteria
A. Persistent deficits in social B. Restricted, repetitive patterns of
communication and social interaction behavior, interests, or activities as
across contexts, not accounted for manifested by at least two of the
by general developmental delays, and following:
manifest by all 3 of the following:
1. Deficits in social-emotional 1. Stereotypies
reciprocity
2. Routines and rituals
2. Deficits in nonverbal
communicative behaviors used 3. Special interests
for social interaction 4. Hyper-or hypo-reactivity to
3. Deficits in developing and sensory input or unusual
maintaining relationships,
interest in sensory aspects
appropriate to developmental
level (beyond those with of environment
caregivers)

12. The relationship of social communication disorder and ASD
Social communication Autism spectrum disorder
disorder
A. Persistent difficulties in pragmatics or A. Persistent deficits in social
the social uses of verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction
communication in naturalistic contexts, across contexts, not accounted for by
which affects the development of social general developmental delays, and
reciprocity and social relationships that manifest by all 3 of the following:
cannot be explained by low abilities in 1. Deficits in social-emotional
the domains of word structure and reciprocity
grammar or general cognitive ability. 2. Deficits in nonverbal
communicative behaviors
B. Persistent difficulties in the acquisition and used for social interaction
use of spoken language, written language, and
other modalities of language (e.g., sign language) 3. Deficits in developing and
for narrative, expository and conversational maintaining relationships,
discourse. Symptoms may affect comprehension,
production, and awareness at a discourse level
appropriate to developmental
individually or in any combination that are likely to level (beyond those with
endure into adolescence and adulthood, although caregivers)
the symptoms, domains, and modalities involved
may shift with age.

13. Impact of diagnosis: key themes and subthemes.
Pitt L et al. Psychiatric Bulletin 2009;33:419-423
©2009 by The Royal College of Psychiatrists

14. Theaut.com
• I will be ending the year with a series of posts that list 50
autistic people I found inspiring this year. Before beginning, I
want to explain my reasons for doing so.
• My inspiration here was the Out100, a list of outstanding LGBT
citizens produced yearly by Out Magazine. Being openly
autistic, and not ashamed about it, is as revolutionary a
concept today as Gay Liberation was in the 1970s. Each of
the people on this list has come forward and said in public, "I
am autistic." If you've never done that, you don't know how
scary it is. You have probably not experienced what it is like to
be ridiculed, marginalized, or ignored because you have been
honest about your own brain. Most of these people do, and
they deserve to be recognized for their bravery.

15. • There is great consternation in Autismland over an article that just appeared in The New
York Times (From www.theautcast.com). Dr. Fred Volkmar is sounding alarm bells over the proposed
changes in how autism is approached by the DSM-V:
• “The proposed changes would put an end to the autism epidemic,” said Dr. Fred R.
Volkmar, director of the Child Study Center at Yale University School of Medicine and an
author of the new analysis. “We would nip it in the bud — think of it that way”.
• Why people should add their names to an online petition (2865 signatories)
www.change.org/petitions/do-not-remove-aspergers-syndrome-and-other-autism-sub-types-from-dsm
• “… understanding and awareness about Autism
spectrum disorders have only recently begun to
increase. Individuals diagnosed with Asperger's have
obtained some degree of understanding due to
exploration of the condition on television shows like
Parenthood. Removing this diagnosis from the DSM
would undermine all of the progress that has been
made in this regard”.

16. Pandya, A., C.
Bresee, et al.
(2011).
"Perceived
impact of the
disclosure of a
schizophrenia
diagnosis."
Community Ment
Health J 47(6):
613-621.

17. Impact of diagnosis
National Alliance on Mental Illness: Schizophrenia
survey
(http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/SchizophreniaSurvey/
Analysis_Living_with_Schizophrenia.htm)

18. http://
aspieside.com/
category/dsm5-
changes/

19. Tucker, I. (2009). ""This is for Life": A Discursive Analysis of the
Dilemmas of Constructing Diagnostic Identities." Forum: Qualitative
Social Research 10(3): Article 24.
• 3 respondents
• Relieved to have a diagnosis because ‘something
wrong’
• Negative identity

20. Meaning or demeaning: more or
less reason for living
• Autonomy
• Agency
• That the world matters enough to act within it
• Identity
• That we matter enough to the world to be accorded
a place

21. Does a diagnosis make you:
• More free?
• Less free?
• Personality disorder diagnosis never freed
anyone

22. Autonomy
• “Our Life is compassed round with Necessity;
yet is the meaning of Life itself no other than
Freedom”
(THOMAS CARLYLE Sartor Resartus II. ix, in Fraser's Mag. Apr. 447/2

23. Agency
• "Autistic people have an innocence, a
childlike quality, regardless of age or
education. This is very obvious when we are
anxious or upset...Our emotions are raw,
immature and childlike. Nowhere is this more
apparent than when we get excited."- Rudy
Simone (Aspergirls, pg 46/48)

24. Schizophrenia:the Most
Identity Complex People In The World
By: decasanova1
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/
Have-Schizophrenia/1544828
Aspergian Pride advocates
Firstly,I would like to say I am not
recognition and acceptance of the ashamed. I am not ashamed
autistic community as an intelligent, because I believe having paranoid
competent minority group with many thoughts,ideas,imaginations does
worthwhile qualities. This site contains not make me a crazy. Society think
articles and web links that present they work on a one way street,but
positive views of autistic identity as a let me tell you that's not the case.
unique, meaningful culture and as a Life is a limitless directional
way of being. Here we affirm our intersect. So anyone sound minded
knows that if you are listening to the
strengths, our joy in life, and the value
monotonous people, than we the
of our existence as capable, healthy, deviants refuse confinement over
purposeful individuals within the liberation. 4ways are better to
normal range of human variation. We understand than one(intersection). -
are a part of creation in all its beauty Peace
and wonder.

25. Aspergian Pride
intelligent, competent
Minority group
worthwhile qualities.
positive
, meaningful
strengths, our joy in life,
healthy, purposeful individuals
beauty and wonder.

26. Schizophrenia:the Most Complex People In The World
By: decasanova1
http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Have-Schizophrenia/
1544828
not ashamed
having paranoid thoughts,ideas,imaginations
does not make me a crazy
Limitless
we the deviants
refuse confinement

27. Identity
• Diagnosis should make it clearer what is ‘I’
and what is the problem I am grappling with
• Personality disorder does not allow room for the
development of an unsullied identity
• ASD does—people with ASD sometimes have
stronger identities than most

28. Agency
• Making the best future possible means:
• Removing unnecessary obstacles
• Cutting down those that cannot be removed
• Taking account of what cannot be cut down or
removed
• Diagnosis should enable this distinction
• “When we are no longer able to change a
situation, we are challenged to change
ourselves.” Victor Frankl ‘Mans search for
meaning’

29. Last thoughts
• DSM-5 neurobiological turn to be welcomed
• It’s not the diagnosis that conveys meaning,
but the meaning that is given to the
diagnosis
• Perhaps people with ASD are fortunate that
there is no treatment
• They must face the challenge of adapting to
their communicative impairment themselves