Expert: Dr. Sharon A. Mitchell - 3/13/2007

Question
I was hoping you might be able to direct me to some credible sources (medical journals, bulletins, etc.) that state that Asperger's Syndrome and autism disorders are not mental or nervous disorders. I am preparing an insurance appeal on 2 counts: one is that the insurance company has declared that AS is a mental or nervous disorder (as opposed to a biological disorder), and the other is that my son's therapies have been declared not medically necessary. I have searched online for professional articles stating that autism disorders are not a form of mental illness but can find very little with clout.  (The company's position is that they pay very little for mental illness and that I need to prove that AS is a brain difference that one is born with. I know they know better, but the burden is upon me.) Do you know of anything I could look into? Thank you for whatever assistance you can provide.

Answer
As a follow-up, this afternoon I came across some excellent information in March 22nd, 2007 issue of Discover magazine. Online you can find it at http://discovermagazine.com/2007/apr/autism-it2019s-not-just-in-the-head The magazine should be available now on newstands.

Sharon A. Mitchell
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I think you might find some of the medical information you're seeking from an excellent text by Klin, Volkmar and Sparrow called Asperger Syndrome (http://www.amazon.com/Asperger-Syndrome-Ami-Klin/dp/1572305347/ref=sr_1_5/103-98...)

Autism spectrum disorders are neurobiologically based. It sounds like you're looking for medical evidence of this fact. If you scroll through the following article until you hit the part about MRI Brain Studies, you may find some useful information:

http://info.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/autism/research.html

There is also some neurological information in these articles:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/detail_asperger.htm

http://www.maapservices.org/

http://home.iprimus.com.au/rboon/Aspergers.htm

Dr. Tony Attwood from Australia is one of the best-known researchers and writers in the area of Asperger's. You may find some of the information you're seeking at his site:

http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/

Best of luck,

Sharon A. Mitchell
www.autismsite.ca