DSM-5 revision

[docorion]

Here's an interesting one, and I am surprised I didn't learn about it until now. The APA (American Psychiatric Association) is revising the DSM, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the 'bible' of psychiatric diagnoses. Basically, if your special problem isn't in here, it doesn't psychologically exist (not completely true, but it establishes

Comments

[docorion]

For almost all the DSM 'disorders', it's important to read the entire thing. In particular, though, I suspect no one is happy with the presence of "tranvestic disorder", but it has to be in there for insurance companies to pay for a lot of the stuff surrounding gender change (like therapy, hormones, stuff like that). If it isn't a "disorder", you're not "sick" and if you're not "sick" then insurance isn't required to pay to make you "well".

And if your mind isn't twisted now, keep reading; the DSM has that effect.

[hrafn]

And if your mind isn't twisted now, keep reading; the DSM has that effect.

Is there a disorder for that?

[docorion]

It's one of the catchall diagnoses. Axis II: WTFisThis disorder.

(One of the principal amusements among providers during idle times is making up new DSM disorders. Play along at home!)

[wotw]

For this revision (which is DSM-5) the APA is accepting
public comment at a new website, www.dsm5.org. And they mean
to use it, apparently.

So much for any pretense that psychiatry is a science.

[docorion]

Well, I would argue that it's a social science, but I've also frequently contended that if you match to a psychiatry residency (the match happens before graduation), then at graduation instead of a diploma you get a sheepskin which says "You decided to become a psychiatrist. No MD for you."