|
What is the DSM-IV? The DSM-IV is the diagnostic
and statistical manual of mental disorders, which has been updated
and added to with regularity since its inception. This author came
onto the scene when the DSM-III was issued in 1980. In 1987, the
DSM-III was revised and re-titled DSM-III – R. The current
manual is called the DSM-IV – TR.
As indicated above, the DSM-IV is a manual outlining mental disorders.
Healthcare professionals including physicians/psychiatrists, psychologists,
and others came together to create a single manual containing categories
of diagnoses with attendant symptomatology for each, to aid in treatment.
Also included in the manual is appropriate coding for billing and
insurance purposes, which is important in order to receive reimbursement
for treatment.
However, as with any attempt to categorize, nothing is ever black
and white, especially with regard to mental illness. There are exceptions
to every diagnosis, and classifying human beings according to diagnoses
can be a slippery slope, as it lends itself to stereotypes, as well
as the inappropriate labeling of individuals. Unfortunately, it
appears we cannot have one without the other. Interestingly enough,
in 1978, the DSM-III – R classified pedophilia with an exception.
This exception was that you could not make a diagnosis of pedophilia
if a man was less than 6 months divorced, and only had a single
incident of occurrence. Needless to say, in the DSM-IV, this has
been changed and the exception has been removed. Also found in the
DSM-III – R, homosexuality was classified as a disorder, and
separated into two categories, ego-dystonic and ego-syntonic homosexuality.
The DSM-IV has removed this distinction.
As one can see, there are benefits and risks to a manual such as
this. It is a good reference source, if used as such.
|
