Introduction to DSM 5

Question 1

what are critiques of the DSM 5?

Answer 1

1. normal problems are increasingly seen as treatable pathology (sadness, grief, worry)
   - removal of bereavement
   - lowering of diagnostic threshold for GAD
   - removal of Asperger’s Syndrome as a separate diagnosis
2. too heavy of an influence from pharma

3a. overdiagnosis in general
3b. shifts focus onto worried well and off those who desperately need resources

Question 2

why was bereavement removed from DSM 5?

Answer 2

bereavement is not protective of major depressive disorder

Question 3

what is the DSM 5 definition of mental disorder?

Answer 3

a syndrome characterized by CLINICALLY significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning

Question 4

what are the caveats to the definition of mental disorder in DSM 5?

Answer 4

• associated with significant distress or disability in social, occupational, or other important activities
• must not be solely an expectable or culturally appropriate response to an event such as death
• does not include deviance or conflicts between the individual and society unless they are dysfunctions

Question 5

does the DSM offer specific guidelines about treatment?

Answer 5

no

Question 6

what is the WHODAS?

Answer 6

based on how impaired the person’s functioning is

Question 7

never forget to consider….

Answer 7

• general medical conditions
• effects of substances
• for almost all diagnoses, symptoms MUST be causing “clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning”