Psychiatry's "Bible" Gets an Overhaul: Meet DSM-5

jtotheizzoe:

The essential reference tome of the world’s psychiatrists is getting its first major update in 30 years. Due for publication in May 2013, Ferris Jabr has a great and detailed summary of the challenges, changes and history of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Some highlights of the new edition:

  • They’ve eliminated several diagnoses (including the controversial “childhood bipolar disorder”)
  • They’ve combined several groups of related disorders (including officially grouping Asperger’s and CDD into “Autism Spectrum Disorders”) and increased the number of symptoms one must display to be diagnosed.
  • They’ve added several new diagnoses, including binge eating disorder, gambling addiction, and both hypersexual and absexual disorder.
  • They got rid of the Roman numerals.

Doctors and publishers have been more transparent in revising this version than in the past (posting drafts online for comment), but concerns remain. Although psychiatrists want to ensure that diagnoses are only given to those who meet certain criteria, will increased stringency prevent some high-functioning people from receiving needed treatment? How strong is the biology behind many of the criteria and distinct diagnoses? Will insurance companies and doctors continue to struggle with “gray-area” patients?

The debates surrounding the manual’s revisions are not merely back-office chatter. Although many psychiatrists do not sit down with the DSM and take its scripture literally—relying instead on personal expertise to make a diagnosis—the DSM largely determines the type of diagnoses clinicians make. Insurance companies often demand an official DSM diagnosis before they pay for medication and therapy. Many state educational and social services—such as after-school programs for kids with autism—also require a DSM diagnosis. Consequently, psychiatrists cannot dole out diagnoses of their own invention. They are bound to the disorders defined by the DSM.

SciAm will be publishing a week-long blog series about the new DSM-5. Highly recommended.

268 Notes/ Hide

  1. caffediansia reblogged this from houseofmind
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  3. graham-bailey reblogged this from angrybrownbaby
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  6. officially-whelmed reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  7. peetski reblogged this from houseofmind and added:
    Call me a dork all you want… I want a copy… now-ish. I want to learn ALL the symptoms and help ALL the people.
  8. chemicalconcerto reblogged this from jtotheizzoe and added:
    YESSS. It’s about time, it’s been out of date for years.
  9. plzdiekthnxbye reblogged this from houseofmind
  10. ashleymbarnett reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  11. frauleindrosselmeyer reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  12. tuulalove reblogged this from houseofmind and added:
    This is interesting…
  13. queenofcatnaps reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  14. acronyms reblogged this from houseofmind
  15. romantasine reblogged this from jtotheizzoe and added:
    :00000000
  16. othartryggvassen reblogged this from mistomaxo and added:
    FUCKING FINALLY. There were quite a few things wrong with how the autistic spectrum is officially diagnosed/studied...
  17. nekomimiclay reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  18. barkbarkbarkbarkbarkbarkbarkbark reblogged this from oldmanyellsatcloud
  19. queerliberationist reblogged this from mistomaxo and added:
    if they think they would get a new diagnosis and have insurance to cover it, then i don’t see why not however they would...
  20. mistomaxo reblogged this from oldmanyellsatcloud and added:
    “They’ve combined several groups of related disorders (including officially grouping Asperger’s and CDD into “Autism...
  21. oldmanyellsatcloud reblogged this from jtotheizzoe and added:
    Worth a look.
  22. saraahlynne reblogged this from houseofmind
  23. livinginalovelierlight reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  24. flurosocks reblogged this from houseofmind
  25. bonnefoy reblogged this from jtotheizzoe
  26. dear-daniela reblogged this from houseofmind and added:
    There’s something about the line that says “They got rid of the Roman Numerals.” that makes me giggle. I’m gonna go look...
  27. pen15club reblogged this from houseofmind