The DSM is a widely used classification system for mental disorders. It provides criteria for diagnosing mental health conditions and is published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
A mental disorder refers to a pattern of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that causes significant distress or impairment in functioning. These conditions are typically diagnosed using criteria outlined in the DSM.
Criteria are specific symptoms or characteristics outlined in the DSM that must be present for a diagnosis of a particular mental disorder.
Historically, the DSM used a multiaxial system for diagnosis, with different axes representing different aspects of a person’s mental health (e.g., clinical disorders, personality disorders, medical conditions). However, this system was discontinued in DSM-5.
The multiaxial system was a classification approach used in earlier versions of the DSM to consider various factors influencing mental health, such as psychiatric diagnoses, personality traits, medical conditions, psychosocial stressors, and functioning.
Categorical diagnosis involves classifying mental disorders into distinct categories based on specific criteria outlined in the DSM. Each disorder is considered a discrete entity with clear boundaries.
Dimensional diagnosis emphasizes the assessment of symptoms along a continuum of severity rather than assigning individuals to discrete categories. This approach provides a more nuanced understanding of mental health conditions.
Comorbidity refers to the presence of two or more distinct mental disorders or medical conditions within the same individual. The DSM recognizes and addresses comorbidity in its diagnostic criteria.
Validity in the context of the DSM refers to the extent to which the manual accurately measures what it intends to measure. Valid diagnostic criteria contribute to reliable and accurate diagnoses.
Reliability refers to the consistency and stability of diagnostic assessments made using the DSM criteria. Reliable diagnoses ensure that different clinicians evaluating the same individual would reach similar conclusions.