📌 The rise in diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in recent decades has expanded access to care, recognition, and inclusion for many people. But this progress raises an important question: how can we ensure responsible diagnoses without turning behavioral differences into pathologies?
🧩 A new essay published in CSP helps reflect on the possible overdiagnosis of ASD and discuss how clinical, social, and institutional factors may influence the significant increase in reports. The authors warn of the impacts of hasty diagnoses, such as stigmatization, inappropriate treatments, and distortions in public policies, and propose ways to strengthen thorough, interdisciplinary assessments centered on the real needs of each individual.