If you’ve spent much time researching mental health issues, you’ve likely encountered references to the DSM-5. What is the DSM-5, and why does it play such an important role in defining mental illnesses?
Have questions about the DSM-5 and mental health diagnoses? Our team is available now to answer your questions, discuss treatment options, and verify your insurance. Take the first step toward healing—call us today to get started.
What Is the DSM-5?
The term DSM-5 refers to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
Published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the DSM-5 is the standard reference on mental and behavioral health disorders for clinicians and other professionals in the United States.
As the full name suggests, the DSM-5 defines the criteria required to accurately diagnose a wide range of mental illnesses. Having a standardized reference like allows mental health professionals across the nation to refer to the same criteria when assessing and diagnosing their patients.
The development of the DSM-5 involved “a roster of diverse and internationally-recognized clinicians, scientific researchers and organizations.” The team that produced the book included:
- More than 160 medical and mental health professionals from 16 nations
- Experts with backgrounds in psychiatry, psychology, social work, psychiatric nursing, pediatrics, and neurology
- Representatives from 90 academic and mental health institutions throughout the world
- More than 300 outside advisors
A Brief History of the DSM-5
The APA released the original DSM in 1952. This book, which the APA describes as “first official manual of mental disorders to focus on clinical use,” was based in part on information in the sixth edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-6).
The ICD is published by the World Health Organization (WHO). Currently in its eleventh edition, the ICD includes guidance for diagnosing and coding medical conditions and diseases as well as mental health concerns.
Following the reference’s initial publication in 1952, six additional editions have been released:
- DSM II (1968)
- DSM III (1974)
- DSM III-R (1978)
- DSM IV (1980)
- DSM-5 (2013)
- DSM-5-TR (2022)
DSM-III-R and DSM-5-TR included revisions in a few areas, but did not represent comprehensive updates of the previous editions.
Which Disorders Are Included in the DSM-5?
The DSM-5 is organized into four sections and an appendix.
- Section I includes guidance for using the book, as well as cautionary statement about its limitations when referred to in forensic/legal settings. Section I also advises that individuals without clinical, medical, or adequate training should not use the book for diagnostic purposes.
- Section III includes information about emerging assessment methods, alternative diagnostic models, and conditions that merit additional study.
- The appendix highlights changes from the previous edition (DSM-IV), as well as a glossary and both alphabetical and numeric listings of relevant diagnoses and codes from the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM.
Section II, which makes up the majority of the book, includes information about specific mental and behavioral health conditions. These conditions are organized into the following chapters:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
- Bipolar and Related Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
- Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders
- Dissociative Disorders
- Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
- Feeding and Eating Disorders
- Elimination Disorders
- Sleep-Wake Disorders
- Sexual Dysfunctions
- Gender Dysphoria
- Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders
- Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
- Neurocognitive Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Paraphilic Disorders
- Other Mental Disorders
- Medication-Induced Movement Disorders and Other Adverse Effects Of Medication
- Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention
Does the DSM-5 Include Every Mental Illness?
Though the DSM-5 provides a thorough reference, it doesn’t include every mental or behavioral health challenge that healthcare providers can treat.
Three of the more well known conditions that haven’t yet been included in any version of the DSM include:
- Orthorexia: This is a type of eating disorder that is characterized by an obsession with eating only healthy food. Of course, following a nutritious diet plan isn’t evidence of a mental illness. But when the desire to eat healthy crosses the line from a beneficial behavior to a compulsion, results can include anxiety, shame, dangerous weight loss, and malnutrition.
- Diabulimia: This is a form of bulimia nervosa that can affect people with type 1 diabetes. Instead of engaging in purging behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, or excessive exercise, people with diabulimia intentionally minimize their insulin use for the purpose of losing weight. Potential effects of untreated diabulimia include dehydration, cardiovascular problems, liver and kidney damage, and death.
- Sex addiction: Someone with this condition may use sex in the way that people with substance use disorders use alcohol or other drugs. They may develop overwhelming urges, engage in dangerous sexual behaviors, have multiple partners, and be unable to control their behaviors even after incurring physical, psychological, or social harm.
Section 3 of the DSM-5 includes the following disorders in the Conditions for Further Study chapter. While experts have not yet classified them as “official” mental health conditions, their inclusion suggests future editions may recognize them.
- Attenuated psychosis syndrome
- Depressive episodes with short-duration hypomania
- Persistent complex bereavement disorder
- Caffeine use disorder
- Internet gaming disorder
- Neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure
- Suicidal behavior disorder
- Nonsuicidal self-injury
- Suicidal behavior disorder
If a disorder isn’t in the DSM-5, it doesn’t mean it isn’t “real” or that a person can’t receive treatment for it. Mental health experts often use the DSM-5 for diagnostic guidance, but they can still diagnose and treat conditions that aren’t included in the book.
Learn More About Mental Health Treatment in Athens, GA
You don’t need to be a licensed professional to buy a copy of the DSM-5. However, as the book’s first section explains, only trained healthcare providers can properly determine if someone meets the criteria for a mental health condition.
If you suspect that you are experiencing the symptoms of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or any other mental health concern, you should schedule an assessment with your primary physical or a mental health expert in your area.
If you reside in or around Athens, GA, you can receive a free assessment at Serenity Grove. A member of our team can conduct a thorough evaluation, provide you with an accurate diagnosis, and recommend appropriate treatment. Completing an assessment at Serenity Grove does obligate you to enroll in any of our treatment programs.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
