Fifth Edition of DSM Expands Its Horizon

DSMThe fifth edition of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) which is known as the bible of psychiatry is about to come out and there are some changes that have been incorporated into it. In a path breaking decision, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) rejected the proposal that would have exposed nonpsychotic children to unnecessary and dangerous antipsychotic medication. This proposal has earlier met with a lot of criticism.

The APA also turned down another suggestion that turned the existential worries and sadness of everyday life into an alleged mental disorder. If this was taken into consideration then, people who suffer sadness after the demise of their loved ones would have termed as mental disorder. But overall the association has agreed to other suggestion like expansion of the boundaries of mental orders, which would bring tens of millions of people under it.

With the changing times, it is necessary to alter the boundaries as the role of the psychiatric diagnosis also change. Until 1980, psychiatric diagnosis was considered to be a professional embarrassment and cultural backwater as most of the psychiatrists rarely agreed on diagnoses and nobody much cared anyway. But with the evolution of DSM, things have changed.