Bill Gates Aspergers Question

[Atomic Wanderer Chicken]

You could ask a pyschiatrist if they "think" he does, they could say yes, but they would also say they wouldn't know unless they personally diagnosed him!

[Hum]

Bill Gates seems to function well and has achieved billions, no matter what 'disorder' he may have.

More people should be so disordered ...

[Bryan R.]

Maybe his geekiness and the way he talks and everything is Bill Gates personality. You should google this and read the articles. There are credible articles that connect Gates to the disorder. I bet if you asked a psychiatrist, they would say they believe he has it as well!

I would bet that you are one of those people that love to here psychiatrists proxy-diagnose someone in an interview when that doctor has never even spoken to the person in question. To me, that sounds like yearning for something more than your life has to offer, but I'm no psychiatrist ;)

[Astra.Xtreme]

So let's get this straight. Since Gates had immense focus, determination, intelligence, and the will to work harder than most people, it must mean he has a severe disorder like Aspergers?

These sort of disorders are diagnosed based on social interaction and personality. Hence why Aspergers is a social disorder. They aren't based on intelligence and the ability to work hard and/or focus.

This is the very most basic principle of Sociology.

[Charisma Veteran]

I don't think Aspergers is a "disorder" really. It's a gift in a lot of ways. The responses in this thread are indicative of the negative associations most people have with it, and that's all wrong. I think when it isn't debilitating it's just another trait, like a predisposition for being skinny, or a genetic tendency to be a morning person, or whatever.

He may have it to some degree, who knows? I think most creative geniuses do, and I'm glad we have them. :)

[Atomic Wanderer Chicken]

Aspergers doesnt impair someones ability to live life fully. I have read they adults live normal lives and marry also and have kids. Perhaps his "aspergers" made him rich! Lets say, his possible "aspergers syndrome" hypothetically made him sit for countless hours creating the foundation coding for Windows. Aspergers is a spectrum disorder and hugely varies, not all persons with the disorder are the exact same. Someone with it can be a normal everyday person to a lesser functioning person!

[Astra.Xtreme]

Someone with it can be a normal everyday person to a lesser functioning person!

That doesn't make any sense. If somebody is normal, how could it be possible they have Aspergers?

The DSM-IV criteria for AS specifies that the individual must have "severe and sustained impairment in social interaction, and the development of restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and activities that must cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning."

This is a severe disorder...

[Atomic Wanderer Chicken]

Here is a better a better description of symptoms!

http://www.ninds.nih...il_asperger.htm

[Atomic Wanderer Chicken]

From Web MD

Symptoms in adulthood

Asperger's syndrome is a lifelong condition, although it tends to stabilize over time, and improvements are often seen. Adults usually have a better understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses. They are able to learn social skills, including how to read others' social cues. Many people with Asperger's syndrome marry and have children.

Some traits that are typical of Asperger's syndrome, such as attention to detail and focused interests, can increase chances of university and career success. Many people with Asperger's seem to be fascinated with technology, and a common career choice is engineering. But scientific careers are by no means the only areas where people with Asperger's excel. Indeed, many respected historical figures have had symptoms of Asperger's, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Thomas Jefferson.

http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/tc/aspergers-syndrome-symptoms?page=2

[Kreuger]

I dunno but I just found out Dan Aykroyd has it because of World Autism Awareness day, yesterday.

[Astra.Xtreme]

From Web MD

Symptoms in adulthood

Asperger's syndrome is a lifelong condition, although it tends to stabilize over time, and improvements are often seen. Adults usually have a better understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses. They are able to learn social skills, including how to read others' social cues. Many people with Asperger's syndrome marry and have children.

Some traits that are typical of Asperger's syndrome, such as attention to detail and focused interests, can increase chances of university and career success. Many people with Asperger's seem to be fascinated with technology, and a common career choice is engineering. But scientific careers are by no means the only areas where people with Asperger's excel. Indeed, many respected historical figures have had symptoms of Asperger's, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Thomas Jefferson.

http://www.webmd.com...symptoms?page=2

The DSM-IV is the industry bible of diagnosing these things and the symptoms it lists doesn't match Gates. The WebMD entry is very very general and isn't worth much of anything in regards to diagnosing somebody. Just because something likes technology and can focus on something doesn't mean they have a disorder. If that was the case, every college grad with a bachelor of science would be considered to have it, which is obviously not true.

I'll repeat what I said before:

The DSM-IV criteria for AS specifies that the individual must have "severe and sustained impairment in social interaction, and the development of restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and activities that must cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning."

[KiHu]

(way he uses his hands when talking)

All I could think of is.. Apple commercials and Italians.

[SadJoker]

I think you don't know about psychology AND psychiatry, as diagnosing someone with a disorder is a job for doctors, thus psychiatry if this is related to behavior. If it is related to behavior and it is neurological, then two doctors have to work together. Psychologists are always used to treat the symptoms, not the disorder. Actually no psychologist is allowed to diagnose someone, because they're not doctors.

You should do your homework before posting "what you have no idea about!" as you stated.

Psychologists don't diagnose people? Please explain to me how my psychologist IS REQUIRED to provide a diagnosis from the DSM to my insurance company for psychotherapy. Sheesh.

On a somewhat unrelated note, if you've been paying attention to trends in the field for the last 5 or so years, you would know that psychiatry and the whole "mental illness is a brain disorder to be treated with pharmaceuticals" idea is becoming less and less accepted.

As for this thread, yes, trying to diagnose someone you barely know is pointless. However, I feel like it could open up an interesting discussion on the topic of Asperger's and autism in general. My best friend has Asperger's and he is genuinely a great person, but comes off as rude because he doesn't really "get" social conventions like other people do.

[Bryan R.]

Loosely defined, the difference between the two fields is the medical application to the problem. Psychiatrists are medical doctors that can prescribe medications to help with a disorder. Psychologists tend to either take a holistic point of view in helping people or can't help someone who truly requires medication.

[Luis Mazza]

Psychologists don't diagnose people? Please explain to me how my psychologist IS REQUIRED to provide a diagnosis from the DSM to my insurance company for psychotherapy. Sheesh.

On a somewhat unrelated note, if you've been paying attention to trends in the field for the last 5 or so years, you would know that psychiatry and the whole "mental illness is a brain disorder to be treated with pharmaceuticals" idea is becoming less and less accepted.

I'm not saying that psychiatry is always right or that the use of medication is always the ideal treatment.

Psychologists can diagnose whatever they want, like you and me. It's just that there's no value without a DOCTOR's diagnosis, which weights in much more than a psychologist's evaluation.

About the DSM... it's mainly an outdated, easy system, to get some kind of psychotherapy treatment. It's not really the best document available and has many flaws. More about it here.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

I'm not saying that psychiatry is always right or that the use of medication is always the ideal treatment.

Psychologists can diagnose whatever they want, like you and me. It's just that there's no value without a DOCTOR's diagnosis, which weights in much more than a psychologist's evaluation.

Doctors diagnose physical problems (cells, limbs, body etc.)

Psychiatrists and Psychologists deal with the mental side of things.

That's the basic idea. Both parties need an investigation in order to diagnose a person. Both parties have a valid opinion, as the other side does not know the specifics in the other's profession.

[Luis Mazza]

Doctors diagnose physical problems (cells, limbs, body etc.)

Psychiatrists and Psychologists deal with the mental side of things.

That's the basic idea. Both parties need an investigation in order to diagnose a person. Both parties have a valid opinion, as the other side does not know the specifics in the other's profession.

A psychiatrist is a doctor with about 7 years of studying medicine, another 2 or three years focusing on psychiatry. Also, a psychiatrist has to study the cellular level of drugs interaction and brain structure, plus the mental, behavioral and psychological aspects of the subject.

A psychologist is basically a therapist that studies many aspects and theories of psychology, many of which are pretty outdated, like Freud's observations.

Thus the course is only 4 or 5 years of theories, not even close to medicine.

[Brony]

And about Bill Gates, nobody will get rich just working hard.

In the business world, the best way to success is to be social, cunning and play hard (if not dirt), Bill Gates is not the exception.

[thomastmc]

I do know that Dan Aykroyd has Asperger's. He's talked about it before, and carries a police men's badge around at all times which is related to it.

Also, many people who get a degree in Psychology, unlike Psychiatry, don't end up working in the medical or counseling professions. They're usually using that degree to augment another field, such as marketing, the arts, design, business management, communications, etc.. And, it's not outdated theories, but rather practical application.

[Dick Montage]

Wow, someone asks a question and you all jump on his. Luis Mazza (or whatever) brings up psychopaths and then tells the OP to get a life when he points out what nonsense Luis spouts and can't even use the word.

1) I personally believe that everyone is on the spectrum to a degree, but most are massively minute levels.

2) Yes I believe Bill Gates is a high-functioning aspergers sufferer (wrong word)

3) The OP never made any claims that this is an issue.

My ex worked for the NAS (National Autism Society), part of what she dealt with was apergers. It is NOT necessarily a severe issue at all - it's a spectrum where people fit into different levels.

[chrisj1968]

not sure if this is a legit question.

[Luis Mazza]

Also, many people who get a degree in Psychology, unlike Psychiatry, don't end up working in the medical or counseling professions. They're usually using that degree to augment another field, such as marketing, the arts, design, business management, communications, etc.. And, it's not outdated theories, but rather practical application.

Yes, those areas make more sense for some psychologists, but not all of them. Actually a good psychologist is a much better option to treat some aspects of mental illness than bad or mediocre psychiatrists. They're just a bit more rare, though.

There are some psychology theories that are too old and cannot be proved (like almost all of Freud's claims), that's why it's not actually a science. They may be interesting, but modern research has put many of those theories in check.

[Shiranui]

I thought it was common knowledge that he has Asperger's?

So what?

[Growled Member]

We can speculate all day and never know for sure if he has it or not. I'm not sure it really matters either way.

[manifesto]

I got this syndrome and it's so funny that many people here are saying BS without knowing what Aspengers really is. I'm not a psychopath and I don't have a low IQ either.

Bill Gates might got this syndrome but who really cares.