46 Caitlin van der Walt
forms of communication. The repetitive behaviours category drew attention to
movements that are repetitive and stereotyped, such as hand flapping, together with
a persistent obsession with an acquired interest (APA, 1994).
Recent changes to the diagnostic criteria as a result of the publication of
DSM-V (APA, 2013) have resulted in Asperger Syndrome and other spectrum dis-
orders being subsumed into one diagnostic category, Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The changes to diagnostic criteria support the view of a number of researchers
(Attwood, 2004; Sansosti and Sansosti, 2012) that Asperger Syndrome is not an
essentially different disorder from Autism, but a variant of Autism located on the
spectrum of autistic disorders. The American Psychiatric Association (2013) believes
that by implementing an ‘umbrella disorder’ an improvement in the diagnoses of
ASD will be seen, making the diagnostic system clearer. It is argued that the use of
a continuum would be more beneficial in targeting the specific patterns of needs
presented by individuals, rather than ‘forcing’ individuals’ behaviours into specific
categories, such as AS (Tsai, 2012).
Contrastingly, other studies (Gibbs, Aldridge, Chandler, Witzlsperger and Smith,
2012) have considered the subset of individuals who, previously diagnosed with AS
under the DSM-IV, will no longer meet the criteria under the DSM-V, potentially
leaving individuals with significant AS-like characteristics undiagnosed. Recent
studies raise concern as to how the changes to diagnostic criteria found within the
DSM-V will impact early intervention programs, reducing funding and support
for this subset of individuals, which they previously received under the DSM-IV.
However, Giles (2014) has drawn attention to the individuals themselves, examin-
ing how these changes may affect their identity, proposing the idea that “... diag-
nostic criteria are not an arbitrary means of classifying psychiatric patients, but a
blue print for a social identity” (p. 180).
What is identity?
Identity is a complex and ongoing process that provides insight into a person, deter-
mining how others view them and how they come to understand and view them-
selves (Shakespeare, 1996). A social constructivist view of identity believes a person
demonstrates altered identities specific to their associated social relationships (Bagatell,
2007), indicating that identity is a continually changing notion, highly dependent on
one’s social environments. Further, it is believed that an individual’s self-concept is
influenced, both negatively and positively, through their memberships with various
groups (Turner, 1999). Holland, Lachicotte, Skinner and Cain (1998) presented the
idea that individuals have the capacity to act upon their own world and become
“social products” and “social producers” of their lives (p. 42), highlighting the power
and control one can have in the formation of their identity. This notion of identity
emphasises the complexity of the ongoing social processes involved in the formation
of identities, as they are continually constructed, challenged, adjusted and changed.
Giles (2014) suggests that individuals who believe their diagnosis forms part of
their selfhood and who believe they are at risk of losing their diagnosis may be fearful