From hypersexuality to sluggish cognitive tempo disorder: The excuses for being lazy in new psychiatrist's 'Bible'

Lost the remote control and can't be bothered to get up to change the channel on the TV? Don't worry, you're not lazy, you simply have sluggish cognitive tempo disorder.



Or maybe you're prone to a bit of a tantrum when you misplace the car keys? Possibly a sign of intermittent explosive disorder.



These are just two of dozens of extravagantly titled 'conditions' under consideration for the latest edition of the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – the psychiatrists' 'bible'.



People who are passive or dreamy could be suffering from sluggish cognitive tempo disorder

Symptoms of sluggish cognitive tempo disorder include passiveness, dreaminess and sluggishness – traits that could easily be confused with laziness.



And with other potential entries including sex addiction there are concerns the revised manual will trigger a boom for drugs companies.



Richard Bentall, professor of clinical psychology at Bangor University, dismissed the new conditions as having 'no basis in science', adding: 'The more disorders there are, the more private business psychiatrists get.'



But the American Psychological Association, which compiles the manual, says the new disorders simply reflect changes in our society.



Not all the proposals are so frivolous, with plans to include a new category for autism. Dr David Kupfer, of the revision taskforce, said the book aimed to be 'based upon the best science available'.

People who whinge constantly may be suffering from negativistic personality disorder, while those prone adult tantrums can take comfort in the diagnosis of intermittent explosive disorder.

Sex features prominently in the list of conditions mooted inclusion in the fifth edition of the manual which is due to be published in 2013.

Some of the contenders include hypersexuality, sufferers of which repeatedly act out their sexual fantasies without any thought for the hurt it may cause others.

Those languishing at the other end of the spectrum may be interested to know that their lack of sex drive can be classified as sexual arousal disorder.

Also on the cards for listing is absexuality, nicknamed the 'Mary Whitehouse syndrome', because of its definition as being a condition which people get a thrill out of being appalled by pornography and other obscenities.

While there is no suggestion that Whitehouse got a kick out of salacious viewing, there is no disputing her passion for attacking broadcasters if she felt standards have slipped.

Richard Bentall, professor of clinical psychology at Bangor University, said: 'Most of these diagnoses are meaningless and have no basis in science.

'But the more disorders there are, the more private business psychiatrists get.'

But Darrel Reiger, a member of the taskforce working on the updated manual, which is known as DSM-5, denied that the revisions were influenced by drugs being developed by pharmaceutical companies.

He said: 'One of the reasons for doing this is that we were concerned about establishing better thresholds of diagnosis for people with genuine disorder.'

Not all of the proposals are so frivolous. Other plans include a new category for autism and related disorders such as Asperger's syndrome and improving the criteria for diagnosis of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

The updated manual is also likely to include scales to help psychiatrists identify people most at risk of suicide.

Dr David Kupfer, who chairs the revision taskforce, said: 'The process for developing DSM-5 continues to be deliberative, thoughtful and inclusive.

'It is our job to review and consider the significant advances that have been made in neuroscience and behavioural science over the pas two decades.

'The American Psychological Association is committed to developing a manual that is both based upon the best science available and useful to clinicians and researchers.'



