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"PERFECTIONISM" and the Failure to Address an Out of Date DSM ---- We Need Interim Procedures

8/24/2022

When we think of "PERFECTIONISM" we often think of young women and eating disorders -- we might think of Karen Carpenter.
But perfectionism and eating disorders impact young men, too.
Further, that "PERFECTIONISM" is very much to be found in our:
- Research Community
- Medical Community and
- Legal Community
That's not all a bad thing, right? It's not.
But especially with Mental Health and the "PRO SOCIAL COMPETENCY EXPERTS" --- there is a "TIMIDITY" to addressing obvious problems and stick your neck out.

The current OUT OF DATE DSM is just such a LARGE, LOOMING ISSUE that REVERBERATES in the Criminal Justice System and throughout the Society.

It can feel a lot "SAFER" to sit up in the BALCONY and pontificate on "NARCISSISM" or "ANTI-SOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER" --------Than it is to address the SERIOUS FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES in one's own profession.

Neuro-Developmental Differences and --What It Really Means to be PRO-LIFE

8/20/2022

Conjecture

When we think of "PRO-LIFE" we think of the Abortion Debate ----
But in so many ways --- LIFE is a "CIRCLE GAME."
We're "CONNECTED" to our parents, grandparents, family tree, society and the environment around us in COMPLICATED WAYS that we "kinda" understand.

We often are having to ADJUST OUR FOCUS from a "TIME PERSPECTIVE" and from a "MICRO to MACRO" Perspective and everything in between.

If we want to get out of the INCARCERATION CRISIS in the US -- we need to do something that feels COUNTER-INTUITIVE and even SCARY given our history of Genocide and Eugenics----

Recognize the Large Incidence of Neuro-Developmental Difference in People with an IQ over 70.
Without the proper SUPPORT, Work-Arounds and Accommodations ----
- A small percentage of this population make up a very large segment of the incarcerated and chronically homeless populations.

"WALKING CHAOS" and Diagnostic Manuals THAT ARE missing the "BIG ROCKS"

8/8/2022

cha·os the·o·ry
/ˈkeɪˌɑs ˌθɪəri/noun

1. the branch of mathematics that deals with complex systems whose behavior is highly sensitive to slight changes in conditions, so that small alterations can give rise to strikingly great consequences.

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Conjecture

I'm going to do some more "Riffing" off of Frank James' video to the right.

In the video, James makes a number of points:

People are "Walking Chaos"
- Yeah, you can predict what they are going to do a lot of the time --
- But they will throw you a CURVE BALL --- and then you have to revise your theories --
- But that will ultimately break down and you'll have to revise your theories again.

I want to bring actual "CHAOS THEORY" to this:

"CHAOS THEORY" isn't saying the world isn't ultimately understandable ---
BUT it is saying there are a lot more "VARIABLES" than what you thought and some of these seemingly "small variables" can have a big effect.

One of the reasons the FOUNDATIONS of MENTAL HEALTH as articulated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual are so "SHAKY" is because we're missing a lot of not only the small effects BUT a lot of the BIG ROCKS ---

MATERNAL IMMUNE ACTIVATION
GENETICS
EPIGENETICS
the IMMUNE SYSTEM
the ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
the MICROBIOME
the INTER-RELATIONSHIPS of these various SYSTEMS with the BRAIN

Frank James
How INFJ Ruins Relationships = "CONTROLLING"

See also Ramped Up Stress Responses Often Lead to Control Freaks

So we could just "PRETEND" what we're doing is sufficient and not LEGALLY, ETHICALLY and MORALLY CHALLENGED ---

and "GOD" knows that's what we are doing.

Or one option is to acknowledge the "COMPLEXITY" of HUMAN BEHAVIOR and that we don't have it all figured out and ----

THIS IS A PROCESS --- NOT AN EVENT.

I do think the more we can start meeting people where they really are in terms of STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES ----

NOT where some IDEALIZED REASONABLE PERSON should be ---
While maintaining SAFETY ---
THE BETTER RESULTS WE'RE GONNA GET.

Developmental Difference with IQ over 70 in the Criminal Justice System

8/7/2022

(See addition on Brain Injury and ADHD below)

See also:

Missed & Misdiagnosed: The Importance Of Screening For Neurodiversity In The Criminal Justice System -- Different Brains (2021)

Neurodiversity in the criminal justice system: A review of evidence -- UK (2021)

This is going to focus mainly on the BLURRED Neuro-Developmental Differences of ADHD and Autism.

So some people do have a CLASSIC "presentation" --- BUT many don't --- and it can be very BLURRED.

Further, it is not just that OTHER PEOPLE don't understand --- it's that the person themselves and their families don't understand.

I think Developmental Difference cqn be a GIFT ---

BUT it can be a NIGHTMARE if you are trying to manage this in IGNORANCE.

The ATTITUDE of the study to the right is pretty standard --- the person with the Neuro-Developmental Difference is being measured on that person's "ADAPTABILITY" to a Neuro-Typical Society.

We are in desperate need of some DOUBLE EMPATHY --- this needs to be more of a TWO-WAY STREET.

I think if you bring together:

Neuro-Developmental Difference
Ignorance, and
Unconscious Bias
- You're basically going to get the CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM we have today.

Further, some of those folks with "BRAIN INJURY" --- may have started out with a DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCE.

Do Toxic Synergies of Underlying Etiologies Predispose the Positive Association Between Traumatic Brain Injury and ADHD? (2020) --- Journal of Attention Disorders
Conclusion: The conclusion of this commentary is that the toxicological interdependence of the underlying etiologies for mTBI and ADHD may help to explain their association as found in the meta-analysis conducted by Adeyemo et al. This commentary explores this dynamic further and, in so doing, underscores the need for additional research to validate these important conclusions.

----Now are there people with Developmental Differences at the TOP of this SOCIETY behaving just badly as those in the CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ----- THERE ABSOLUTELY ARE.

Asperger's from the Inside
High Functioning Autism --- It's NOT What You Think

The misnomer of 'high functioning autism': Intelligence is an imprecise predictor of functional abilities at diagnosis (2020)

Affiliations

1 Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Australia.
2 Stanford University, USA.
3 WA Department of Health, Australia.

Abstract

'High functioning autism' is a term often used for individuals with autism spectrum disorder without an intellectual disability. Over time, this term has become synonymous with expectations of greater functional skills and better long-term outcomes, despite contradictory clinical observations.

This study investigated the relationship between adaptive behaviour, cognitive estimates (intelligence quotient) and age at diagnosis in autism spectrum disorder.

Participants (n = 2225, 1-18 years of age) were notified at diagnosis to a prospective register and grouped by presence (n = 1041) or absence (n = 1184) of intellectual disability.

Functional abilities were reported using the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales.

Regression models suggested that intelligence quotient was a weak predictor of Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales after controlling for sex.

Whereas the intellectual disability group's adaptive behaviour estimates were close to reported intelligence quotients, Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales scores fell significantly below intelligence quotients for children without intellectual disability.

The gap between intelligence quotient and Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales scores remained large with increasing age at diagnosis for all children.

These data indicate that estimates from intelligence quotient alone are an imprecise proxy for functional abilities when diagnosing autism spectrum disorder, particularly for those without intellectual disability.

We argue that 'high functioning autism' is an inaccurate clinical descriptor when based solely on intelligence quotient demarcations and this term should be abandoned in research and clinical practice.

Executive Functioning: Looking for a Strength-Based & Equitable Approach

Criminal Justice Index

Criminal Justice and Invisible Disabilities Index

Neuro-Behavioral Disability in the Criminal Justice System

Transitional/ Translational Justice Monday

"PERFECTIONISM" and the Failure to Address an Out of Date DSM ---- We Need Interim Procedures

Neuro-Developmental Differences and --What It Really Means to be PRO-LIFE

"WALKING CHAOS" and Diagnostic Manuals THAT ARE missing the "BIG ROCKS"

Developmental Difference with IQ over 70 in the Criminal Justice System

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