Member

The issues surrounding the diagnostic criteria were thought through carefully during the development of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and, most recently, looked at again during the passage of the Autism Act 2009. It was felt to be unfeasible to change the definitions because of the national and international implications. It would be very sad if this Bill were to diverge the direction of travel in English and Welsh legislation away from the international trend. It is also true in any case that many mental disorders are now treated not by psychiatrists but by psychologists, neurologists and clinical psychiatric nurse specialists, so calling something a psychiatric disorder rather than a mental disorder really does not make much sense.