I feel like people confuse the term spectrum with the term continuum. Fading from black to white through gray is a continuum. Rainbow colours are a spectrum. In mental health, most conditions have no aetiology - or it is not considered, and the condition is described or defined by signs and symptoms, and not something like a bloodtest. The weight of each of these signs and symptoms is what makes up the spectrum. When someone is on the spectrum of whatever condition, it means the sum of those weights exceed a value that causes some detriment to the individuals quality of life. Maybe I’m spliting hairs but I thought to share my understanding.
I feel like people confuse the term spectrum with the term continuum. Fading from black to white through gray is a continuum. Rainbow colours are a spectrum. In mental health, most conditions have no aetiology - or it is not considered, and the condition is described or defined by signs and symptoms, and not something like a bloodtest. The weight of each of these signs and symptoms is what makes up the spectrum. When someone is on the spectrum of whatever condition, it means the sum of those weights exceed a value that causes some detriment to the individuals quality of life. Maybe I’m spliting hairs but I thought to share my understanding.