Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM)

Michael J. Constantino & Christopher M. Spofford

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , or DSM , is an official classification system of mental disorders used in the United States and by many health professionals around the world. Published by the American Psychiatric Association, the DSM is an evolving text that is periodically revised to reflect the most contemporary knowledge regarding psychological disorders. Since its inception in 1952, this handbook has undergone a series of revisions (DSM-II, DSM-III, DSM-III-Revised, DSM-IV , and DSM-1Y-TR) . Reflecting the human penchant for organizing and categorizing, the DSM contains comprehensive descriptions of several hundred psychiatric disorders, ranging from relatively minor adjustment-related issues to severe, persistent, and disabling conditions. In recent editions of the DSM , researchers have rigorously attempted to establish a valid and reliable diagnostic system. To this end, numerous task forces were appointed to ensure that the diagnoses reflect distinct clinical phenomena that can be applied to ...

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