Psychiatric Diagnosis as a Precursor to Research Diffi culties in Mental Health

2007 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-71
Author(s):  
Denise Russell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Conceptual Core

The starting point for most mental health research is psychiatric diagnosis. If diagnoses are controversial or unreliable, then the results of the research will be difficult to interpret and its value will be undercut. The most widely used system of psychiatric diagnosis is found in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This article looks at the conceptual core of diagnosis in the latest manual, examines the definition of mental disorder, and exposes some key underlying conceptual issues especially with regard to the notions of “distress,” “impairment,” and “dysfunction.” The role of subjectivity and values in the application of these concepts is also stressed and discussed in relation to specific mental disorders.

scholarly journals THE DSM-5 AND THE ROLE OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS UNDER THE CRIMINAL LAW

Obiter ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charnelle van der Bijl ◽  
Letitia Pienaar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Personality Disorders ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
Dsm Iv ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Axial System

The DSM-5 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders was published in 2013. This manual replaced and significantly revised the former DSM IV-TR, as it abolishes the Multi-Axial system that distinguished between personality and otherdisorders, which system had an impact on the disorders that were considered legally significant from those that were not. Owing to its recent publication, the DSM-5 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, was not judicially considered in a criminal-law context. This article examines the role that personality disorders in the DSM-5 will play on the possible future of Criminal Law jurisprudential literature. Personality disorders are examined in the context of their classification, the definition of mental illness and pathological criminal incapacity. Possible solutions are suggested on how these mental disorders may be accommodated in the Criminal Law context.

scholarly journals Revising Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, criteria for the bipolar disorders: Phase I of the AREDOC project

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
pp. 1173-1182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon Parker ◽  
Gabriela Tavella ◽  
Glenda Macqueen ◽  
Michael Berk ◽  
Heinz Grunze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Bipolar Disorders ◽  
International Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Operational Criteria ◽  
International Experts

Objective: To derive new criteria sets for defining manic and hypomanic episodes (and thus for defining the bipolar I and II disorders), an international Task Force was assembled and termed AREDOC reflecting its role of Assessment, Revision and Evaluation of DSM and other Operational Criteria. This paper reports on the first phase of its deliberations and interim criteria recommendations. Method: The first stage of the process consisted of reviewing Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and recent International Classification of Diseases criteria, identifying their limitations and generating modified criteria sets for further in-depth consideration. Task Force members responded to recommendations for modifying criteria and from these the most problematic issues were identified. Results: Principal issues focussed on by Task Force members were how best to differentiate mania and hypomania, how to judge ‘impairment’ (both in and of itself and allowing that functioning may sometimes improve during hypomanic episodes) and concern that rejecting some criteria (e.g. an imposed duration period) might risk false-positive diagnoses of the bipolar disorders. Conclusion: This first-stage report summarises the clinical opinions of international experts in the diagnosis and management of the bipolar disorders, allowing readers to contemplate diagnostic parameters that may influence their clinical decisions. The findings meaningfully inform subsequent Task Force stages (involving a further commentary stage followed by an empirical study) that are expected to generate improved symptom criteria for diagnosing the bipolar I and II disorders with greater precision and to clarify whether they differ dimensionally or categorically.

scholarly journals Responses to the Publication of the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 625-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Kinderman ◽  
Kate Allsopp ◽  
Anne Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽  
Personal Perspective ◽  
Scholarly Journals ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
Significant Change ◽  
International Summit

The idea and practice of diagnosis in psychiatry has always been controversial. Controversy came to a head in the period preceding and immediately after publication of the latest version of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fifth edition. There was widespread international discussion and debate not only in scholarly journals but in mainstream and social media, and to the formation of International DSM Response Committee and an International Summit on Psychiatric Diagnosis. This article documents that process and outlines the issues that provoked, and continue to provoke most controversy, from the (admittedly personal) perspective of those involved. It ends with suggestions of alternatives to diagnosis, which avoid some of these problems and outlines how these are being taken forward. The next 10 years are likely to see significant change.

Chronic pain and the psychiatrist

2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28
Author(s):  
B. Van Houdenhove
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Personality Disorders ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual

SUMMARYChronic pain is a phenomenon with important psychiatric aspects from a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic point of view. The place of chronic pain in the different versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and the differential-diagnosis are critically discussed. The comorbidity with depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse and personality disorders is extensively treated. Finally, the essential role of the psychiatrist in the multidisciplinary therapeutic approach of these patients is emphasised.

Mental Health for Asexual Individuals

2020 ◽  
pp. 317-329
Author(s):  
Esther D. Rothblum
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sexual Desire ◽  
Sexual Attraction ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Low Sexual Desire

The present chapter focuses on the mental health of individuals who identify as asexual, defined as not having feelings of sexual attraction for other people. It focuses on population-based studies of the prevalence of asexuality and demographic characteristics of asexual respondents in these surveys. The author describes the stigma of asexual identity as perceived by asexual individuals and by society, as well as the advantages that asexual individuals cite. The author also reviews how low sexual desire is described in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The chapter reviews the (scant) literature on asexual mental health and ends with some implications for future research.

scholarly journals Robert Spitzer's legacy: agreement is halfway to truth

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 198-199
Author(s):  
Peter Tyrer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽  
Diagnostic Reliability ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
The Third

SummaryBob Spitzer died in December 2015 but is not likely to be forgotten quickly. His Herculean task in reforming psychiatric diagnosis, mainly by the development of the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980, has been acknowledged by many, but it remains unfinished. To complete the process, we need more than good diagnostic reliability, we need better veracity.Declaration of interestNone.

Future of Classification in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

2012 ◽  
pp. 53-66
Author(s):  
Terence M. Keane ◽  
Mark W. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
The Status ◽  
History Of ◽  
Definition Of

This chapter reviews the status of modifications to the definition of PTSD and proposed changes for DSM-5. We include a brief history of the diagnosis and trace its evolution in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). We discuss some of the current controversies related to the definition of PTSD including its location among the anxiety disorders, the utility of Criterion A and its subcomponents, and the factor structure of the symptoms. We review the rationale for the addition of new symptoms and modifications to existing criteria now and conclude with comments on future directions for research on PTSD.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document