3 ms·

Is autism a purely U.S phenomenon? Has it been increasing in other countries? Is it of equal prevalence in all countries with modern medical infrastructure?

joesmo 11y ago
I think you're thinking of ADD/ADHD, which is a US based phenomenon/pseudo-disease. Autism is indeed a real disease: http://www.autism-society.org/what-is/facts-and-statistics/ http://www.autism-society.org/what-is/facts-and-statistics/
- Others 11y ago
  I don't think that people should label disorders diagnosed by real psychologists as "pseudo-diseases". As far as ADHD being a US disease, can I link to: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525089/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525089/?
  - scholia 11y ago
    Real science is just about universal, whereas non-science varies with geography and fashion. I'd be happier with "real phsychologists" if they were closer to the "real science" end of the spectrum. More like, for example, neuro-scientists, and less like psychiatrists. Seems to me this story is about someone looking for real neuro-science and not getting enough of it. Whether that's the right quest is another matter: I don't know enough to know.
    - CydeWeys 11y ago
      You're using "universal" in a sense that is unfair. Science isn't universal in the sense that any finding must apply globally while ignoring contextual factors. There all sorts of ways in which differing geography, cultural practices, genetics, environmental factors, prevailing diet, etc., etc., can and do create differences in observed diseases. It's unfair and wrong to say that something is unscientific because it manifests in some places but not in others.
      - scholia 11y ago
        Hm, don't think so. Real sciences such as maths, physics, chemistry, biology, geology etc apply globally and, indeed, beyond globally. The science of genetics is global even though genes vary with geography. Real science is also consistent over time, even though it changes when new information is added. This is different from, say, religion, fashion, and psychiatry.

joesmo 11y ago

I think you're thinking of ADD/ADHD, which is a US based phenomenon/pseudo-disease. Autism is indeed a real disease: http://www.autism-society.org/what-is/facts-and-statistics/ http://www.autism-society.org/what-is/facts-and-statistics/

Others 11y ago
I don't think that people should label disorders diagnosed by real psychologists as "pseudo-diseases". As far as ADHD being a US disease, can I link to: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525089/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525089/?
- scholia 11y ago
  Real science is just about universal, whereas non-science varies with geography and fashion. I'd be happier with "real phsychologists" if they were closer to the "real science" end of the spectrum. More like, for example, neuro-scientists, and less like psychiatrists. Seems to me this story is about someone looking for real neuro-science and not getting enough of it. Whether that's the right quest is another matter: I don't know enough to know.
  - CydeWeys 11y ago
    You're using "universal" in a sense that is unfair. Science isn't universal in the sense that any finding must apply globally while ignoring contextual factors. There all sorts of ways in which differing geography, cultural practices, genetics, environmental factors, prevailing diet, etc., etc., can and do create differences in observed diseases. It's unfair and wrong to say that something is unscientific because it manifests in some places but not in others.
    - scholia 11y ago
      Hm, don't think so. Real sciences such as maths, physics, chemistry, biology, geology etc apply globally and, indeed, beyond globally. The science of genetics is global even though genes vary with geography. Real science is also consistent over time, even though it changes when new information is added. This is different from, say, religion, fashion, and psychiatry.