DSM (Classification Systems)

Question 1

Strengths

Answer 1

-has standardized diagnoses
- it has created common terminology
- also incorporated empirical evidence gained from the years of research and use
- it has provided therapeutic guidance to psychiatrists
- it has created a research base and each edition has a strong empirical foundation than the last

Question 2

Limitations

Answer 2

-Its use has resulted in misdiagnoses and overdiagnoses
-Diagnosis may lead to labelling and stigmatisation
-The DSM may be considered an oversimplification reducing the continuum of human behavior to label
-Much of the research evidence is based on western studies, thus minorities experience with mental health is not well represented
-Some of the cut- off points are seen as controversial e.g why must someone have at least 5 of the 9 symptoms of MDD to be diagnosed.

Question 3

Intro

Answer 3

• Classificatory systems aim to provide a common shorthand language, understand the origins of disordrs and set up treartment plans
• identify pattern of behavioural or mental symptoms that consisitenlty occur together to form a disorder.
• akllow different clinicians using it to arive at the same giagnoses

Question 4

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Answer 4

-produced by the american psychiatric association
- major shift from establishing causes of disorders based on the blinician’s interpretation of the client’s behvaior to describing a set of observable symprotms and trying to create classification categories taht would not overlap.
- role of theory in giagnosis was gradually rduced.
- might have made diagnosis more superficial but allowed clinicisnd to use a common language and arrive at similar diagnoses

Question 5

DSM I

Answer 5

• (1952) based on psychoanalytic traditions. Focus was on establishing causes which invoved lot of interpretatiion on the part of the psychiatrist

Question 6

DSM II

Answer 6

(1968) triggered by attacks fro scientists and spcial activists.
- still retained alot of psychoanalytic features; it was focused more on explaining and interpreting disorders than describing them

Question 7

DSM III

Answer 7

• results of doubts raised in the scientific community
• diagnostic categories had to be made more scientific
• change of focus from interpreting to describing
• includd 265 disorders organized in 5 groups (the multi-axial system)

Question 8

DSM IV

Answer 8

DSM III critisized for over diagnosis
- included the clinical significance criterion: symproms considered clinically significant if they created major distress or interfered with daily functioning

Question 9

DSM-5

Answer 9

-the ulti-axia sysem was criticized for being aratifical and not reflecting realing (eliminated)
- cultural variability of symporoms
- Cu;tural formulation interview tool included to help clinicins avoid cultural bias in diagnosis