Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fifth Edition (DSM-5)

Purpose: Diagnose and classify mental disorders

The new edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines and classifies mental disorders in order to improve diagnoses, treatment, and research. It is the product of more than over 10 years of effort by hundreds of international experts in all aspects of mental health.

The criteria are concise and explicit, intended to facilitate an objective assessment of symptom presentations in a variety of clinical settings—inpatient, outpatient, partial hospital, consultation-liaison, clinical, private practice, and primary care.

The DSM-5 is the most comprehensive, current, and critical resource for clinical practice available to today's mental health clinicians and researchers. The information contained in the manual is also valuable to other physicians and health professionals, including psychologists, counsellors, nurses, occupational and rehabilitation therapists, as well as social workers and forensic and legal specialists.

New Features and Enhancements

• Chapter organisation reflects a lifespan approach, with disorders typically diagnosed in childhood (such as neurodevelopmental disorders) at the beginning of the manual, and those more typical of older adults (such as neurocognitive disorders) placed at the end
• Latest findings in neuroimaging and genetics have been integrated into each disorder along with gender and cultural considerations
• Recognises symptoms that span multiple diagnostic categories, providing new clinical insight in diagnosis
• Specific criteria have been streamlined, consolidated and clarified to be consistent with clinical practice including:
  • Consolidation of autism disorder, asperger’s syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder into autism spectrum disorder
  • Classification of bipolar and depressive disorders
  • Restructuring of substance use disorders for consistency and clarity
  • Enhanced specificity for major and mild neurocognitive disorders
• Dimensional assessments for research and validation of clinical results have been provided
• Both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM codes are included for each disorder and the organisational structure is consistent with the new ICD-11 in development

Essential Companion Guides to the DSM-5 are also available.