Ever heard of the DSM IV? If you are in psychology or nursing, you probably have or will. This book is THE book used in diagnosing mental disorders. DSM stands for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and it is published by the American Psychiatric Association. Well, the APA is going to updating the 4th edition with the 5th edition in the next couple of years. The DSM is very important, and (naturally) it is has also been very controversial over the decades. I wanted to share a couple of pieces about the DSM, its edits, and its uses.
- Art of Diagnosis: http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2010/02/12/06: This On the Media story looks at how science and society combine in the DSM. There are many people advocating for disorders such as eating disorder to be included. The difference between inclusion and exclusion is the difference between reality and non-existence.
- The Protest Psychosis: http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2010/02/12/07: This On the Media story examines how the diagnosis of Schizophrenia in the DSM has changed over the years.
- Psychiatrists Propose Revisions to Diagnosis Manual: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/jan-june10/mentalillness_02-10.html: This News Hour piece is a general overview of the proposed change process for the DSM.