New disorder in the DSM-V to be diagnosed when someone has social and communication deficits, but not other aspects of autism spectrum disorder, such as repetitive patterns, interests, behaviors. 

- recorded 14% increase in cases because of this new disorder's diagnosis
- however women are now at greater risk for being misdiagnosed with SCD instead of ASD

University of California, Davis

- clinical or social work practice without up-to-date knowledge is harmful for patients
- clinicians. and social workers should keep tabs on developments in autism research, specifically with new diagnostic tools emerging
- autism has a high comorbidity with depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns due to its isolating effects, but social workers and clinicians need to recognize this and treat accordingly
- diagnostic models are only models, they need critical thinking and examining of the clinician's own gender biases to be correctly used

ex.) Patient 'Sue' who had Asperger's syndrome, but was misdiagnosed as being depressed at age 14. The depression treatments she received were contradictory to the autism stimuli, resulting in a painful three years until she was correctly diagnosed at age 17.

Further Implications of the Gender Bias in Autism and Asperger's Syndrome

https://www.apa.org/topics/autism-spectrum-disorder

APA - Autism Spectrum Disorder

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15332985.2015.1031858?needAccess=true

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