DSM refers to a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; which is a compilation of more than a decade’s worth of effort contributed by hundreds of experts and specialists internationally (Center for Substance Abuse and Treatment). Research and observations by these experts have yielded a highly authoritative volume which provides standard definitions and classifications for mental disorders so as to enable improvements in diagnostic measures, treatment options and research (APA 2013). The DSM is revised occasionally hence the different volumes.
Changes between the DSV-IV and DSM-V have helped improve the diagnostic measures of the DSM in general. First, DSM-V replaces the word ‘general’ used in DSM-IV with the term ‘another’ for all relevant medical conditions. Therefore, instead of referring to ‘general medical conditions’, it refers to ‘another medical condition’ (APA 2013). This shows that the DSM criteria recognizes that the condition might not be a common known occurrence but a new phenomenon altogether. This subtle change helps encompass all new medical conditions and mental disorders.
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Another change includes replacing the word ‘mental retardation’ with ‘intellectual disability’. The choice of the new term is based on the preference for choosing a word that humanizes the patient and which has been in use for the last fifteen years. Additionally, DSM-V placed the words ‘intellectual developmental disorder’ in parenthesis as the preferred new term once the World Health Organization’s classification system is fully adopted (APA 2013). I believe this change in term allows specialists and guardians to refer to patients in an acceptable manner.
In the diagnosis of schizophrenia, DSM-V made two important changes. First, in the Criterion A for schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, DSM-V notes that it is difficult to distinguish between bizarre and non-bizarre delusions and therefore, included an extra symptom for diagnosis (APA 2013). Therefore, two symptoms would be required in the Criterion A for diagnosis in that category. Second, DSV-V added the requirement that, for full diagnosis, an individual must exhibit at least one of the three symptoms: delusions, hallucinations and disorganized speech (APA 2013).
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Highlights of changes from DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5. American Psychiatric Association, 19.
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2009). Substance abuse treatment: Addressing the specific needs of women. Rockville (MD). In: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); (2009). (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 51) Appendix E: DSM-IV-TR criteria for posttraumatic disorder.
