Autism Prevalence, Over-diagnosis, and Amplification of Symptoms

This chapter explores the prevalence of autism and the debate over whether it is due to underlying issues, over-diagnosis, or both. It delves into the rising diagnosis rates of other childhood developmental and mental disorders, the varying diagnostic criteria used, and the potential influence of social media on symptom amplification. The discussion also touches on the consumerization of clinical disorders and the controversial topic of self-diagnosis.