Mental Dsm Disorders People Health Diagnostic Statistical Manual

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is sometimes called the "psychiatrist's bible," where a psychiatrist is a doctor who studies mental health problems and can prescribe medications for them. The DSM was first created in 1952 and is now in its fifth "edition" (revision of a book that has been published multiple times).

The DSM "standardizes" (makes the same) "diagnoses" (a doctor's assessment of what is wrong with a patient) for psychiatric "disorders" (health problems). Specifically, the DSM "classifies" (groups by related types) mental disorders, presents their characteristics, and "assigns" (names) "codes" (strings of numbers and/or letters) to each disorder. This allows psychiatrists, researchers, insurers, and others to share information about a patient's diagnosis and treatment quickly and easily.

Some people "criticize" (say bad things about) the DSM because it classifies mental disorders based on their "symptoms" (how a condition affects one's body or behavior) instead of the "causes" (what makes something happen) of the disorder. Other people say that the DSM has a "cultural bias" such that the diagnoses do not "account for" consider expectations of behavior for people from other cultures. The most recent edition has been criticized for "medicalizing normality" (viewing normal behavior as a medical problem) and increasing the likelihood that more people will use psychiatric drugs.

"Despite these criticisms" (even thought these negative things are being said), the DSM "remains" (continues to be) an important tool for psychiatrists in their work with patients, colleagues, and health system administrators.