Mental health on screen: A DSM-5 dissection of portrayals of autism spectrum disorders in film and TV

Anders Nordahl-Hansen; Magnus Tøndevold; Sue Fletcher-Watson

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2017.08.050

Mental health on screen: A DSM-5 dissection of portrayals of autism spectrum disorders in film and TV

Anders Nordahl-Hansen, Magnus Tøndevold, Sue Fletcher-Watson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Portrayals of characters with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in films and TV series are subject to intense debate over whether such representations are accurate. Inaccurate portrayals are a concern as they may lead to increased stereotypes toward the condition. We investigate whether portrayals of characters with autism spectrum disorder in film and TV-series align with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Our data show that characters present a full range of characteristics described in the DSM-5. The meaning of this finding is discussed in relation to potential educational value of on screen portrayals and the notion of authenticity in representing the autistic experience.

Original language	English
Journal	Psychiatry Research
Early online date	23 Aug 2017
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.08.050
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 23 Aug 2017

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Journal Article

Access to Document

10.1016/j.psychres.2017.08.050

Mental health on screen: a DSM-5 dissection of portrayals of Autism Spectrum Disorders in film and TVAccepted author manuscript, 30.6 KB

Cite this

@article{9b2693b636e44d3f8aee1510c0c521bd,

title = "Mental health on screen: A DSM-5 dissection of portrayals of autism spectrum disorders in film and TV",

abstract = "Portrayals of characters with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in films and TV series are subject to intense debate over whether such representations are accurate. Inaccurate portrayals are a concern as they may lead to increased stereotypes toward the condition. We investigate whether portrayals of characters with autism spectrum disorder in film and TV-series align with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Our data show that characters present a full range of characteristics described in the DSM-5. The meaning of this finding is discussed in relation to potential educational value of on screen portrayals and the notion of authenticity in representing the autistic experience.",

keywords = "Journal Article",

author = "Anders Nordahl-Hansen and Magnus T{\o}ndevold and Sue Fletcher-Watson",

year = "2017",

month = aug,

day = "23",

doi = "10.1016/j.psychres.2017.08.050",

language = "English",

journal = "Psychiatry Research",

issn = "0165-1781",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mental health on screen

T2 - A DSM-5 dissection of portrayals of autism spectrum disorders in film and TV

AU - Nordahl-Hansen, Anders

AU - Tøndevold, Magnus

AU - Fletcher-Watson, Sue

PY - 2017/8/23

Y1 - 2017/8/23

N2 - Portrayals of characters with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in films and TV series are subject to intense debate over whether such representations are accurate. Inaccurate portrayals are a concern as they may lead to increased stereotypes toward the condition. We investigate whether portrayals of characters with autism spectrum disorder in film and TV-series align with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Our data show that characters present a full range of characteristics described in the DSM-5. The meaning of this finding is discussed in relation to potential educational value of on screen portrayals and the notion of authenticity in representing the autistic experience.

AB - Portrayals of characters with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in films and TV series are subject to intense debate over whether such representations are accurate. Inaccurate portrayals are a concern as they may lead to increased stereotypes toward the condition. We investigate whether portrayals of characters with autism spectrum disorder in film and TV-series align with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Our data show that characters present a full range of characteristics described in the DSM-5. The meaning of this finding is discussed in relation to potential educational value of on screen portrayals and the notion of authenticity in representing the autistic experience.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.08.050

DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.08.050

M3 - Article

C2 - 28843629

SN - 0165-1781

JO - Psychiatry Research

JF - Psychiatry Research

ER -

Mental health on screen: A DSM-5 dissection of portrayals of autism spectrum disorders in film and TV

Abstract

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this