MetaFilter posts tagged with dsm

"Patients with mental disorders deserve better."

overeducated_alligator — Sat, 04 May 2013 12:46:00 -0800

National Institute of Mental Health director Thomas Insell reports that NIMH will phase out its reliance on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), in favor of a revamped psychiatric diagnostic system based on "genetics, imaging, cognitive science, and other levels of information to lay the foundation for a new classification system." This announcement arrives only weeks before the debut of the DSM-V, whose long, tortuous development period was discussed previously. Responses from bloggers Vaughn Bell at Mindhacks, and John Horgan of Scientific American at Cross-Check.

"New diagnoses are more dangerous than new drugs"

catlet — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 13:04:37 -0800

On December 2, the American Psychiatric Association's board of trustees voted on the latest revisions to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, to be published as the fifth edition (DSM-5) in May 2013. The results of the vote have not been released publicly, and some have questioned the limited press coverage of decisions that will affect people worldwide who receive psychiatric diagnoses. Dr. Allen Francis, chair of the DSM-IV revision committee, says that the board "has given its final approval to a deeply flawed DSM 5". (The title of this post is also drawn from this link.) Previously on MetaFilter: DSM5, DSM, DSMV.

Rise of the Aspies

bookman117 — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 22:39:29 -0800

Is Everyone on the Spectrum? "In the nineties, clinicians began reconceptualizing autism from a singular disorder to a cluster of related conditions on a spectrum of severity; as the criteria broadened to encompass less acutely impaired people—such as the more verbal group diagnosed with Asperger’s—prevalence rose dramatically. Before 1980, one in 2,000 children was thought to be autistic. By 2007, the Centers for Disease Control were reporting that one in 152 American children had an autism-spectrum disorder. Two years later, the CDC updated the ratio to one in 110. This past March, the CDC revised the number upward again, to one in 88 (one in 54, if you just count boys, who are five times as likely to have one as girls). A South Korean study from last year put the number even higher, at one in 38. And in New Jersey, according to the latest numbers, an improbable one in 29 boys is on the spectrum."

81 words

infinite intimation — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 10:22:47 -0800

Being gay was considered a mental disorder by psychiatry - until 1973 - when the battle lines were drawn. Reporter Alix Spiegel continues the gripping story that spurred a radical rethink. It's the story of a closeted cartel of powerful, gay psychiatrists; of confrontations with angry activists; a shrink dressed in a Nixon mask, and a pivotal encounter in a Hawaiian bar. Alix Spiegel --

This is the story of a definition. Three single sentences composed of 81 words. It's the story of how this particular definition became another definition, nine sentences composed of 237 words. Now according to some parties this change from 81 words to 237 words liberated an entire category of humanity. According to other parties it undermined the basic family unit, compromised the scientific authority of psychiatry and 'tampered with the basic code and concept of life'. Now I should tell you that I know this story not because I read it in a book or learned it in any class, but because it's one of those stories that my family uses to explain itself. Like most family stories, or anyway, like most stories told in my family, the version I heard growing up was an exaggeration, the relevant family member cast as a conquering hero. The actual story, the story I hope to tell you, is of course much more complicated -- but I'm getting ahead of myself.

81 Words: the inside story of psychiatry and homosexuality [Part 1 of 2] Download audio (mp3, right click, download linked file) 81 Words: the inside story of psychiatry and homosexuality (Part 2 of 2) Download audio (mp3, right click, download linked file) Show Transcript "Note: This American Life is produced for the ear and designed to be heard, not read. We strongly encourage you to listen to the audio, which includes emotion and emphasis that's not on the page. Transcripts are generated using a combination of speech recognition software and human transcribers, and may contain errors. Please check the corresponding audio before quoting in print." Homosexuality was once labelled a mental disease by psychiatry. But in 1973 the challenge came from within. The American Psychiatric Association had a change of heart. And with the tweak of the 81-word definition of sexual deviance in its own diagnostic manual, lives were reclaimed, and values confronted. Reporter and narrator Alix Spiegel tells the gripping story from the inside, revealing the activities of a closeted group of gay psychiatrists who sowed the seeds of change, amongst them her own grandfather, president-elect of the APA at the time. From Chicago Public Radio's This American Life.

You all need to have your heads examined

hat_eater — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 02:28:28 -0800

The epidemic of mental illness plaguing the Americans and the overmedication of psychiatric patients are in part artifacts of the diagnostic method. Is the DSM working as designed? Marcia Agnelli, former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, dissects the current "bible of psychiatry". previously, previously.

The Psychopathology of Extreme Heroism

saulgoodman — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:17:44 -0800

SciAm takes a look at the fine line between clinical pyschopaths and real-life superheroes. Related: Addicted to Being Good

Inside the Battle to Define Mental Illness

OmieWise — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 05:40:40 -0800

Inside the Battle to Define Mental Illness. The DSM-V and its critics. (DSM-V previously)

Picky Eating - Mental Disorder?

backseatpilot — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:08:30 -0800

Picky Eating might be added to the DSM.

DSM-5

emilyd22222 — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:12:34 -0800

At midnight tonight, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) released a proposed draft of the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Some notable changes: -Addition of dimensional assessments -Addition of standardized way to assess disorder severity - Binge Eating Disorder added to eating disorders - Asperger Syndrome removed and folded into the autism spectrum disorder umbrella -Addition of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury It appears that no changes were made to Gender Identity Disorders, which had been a focus of concern. The APA is seeking public comment from health professionals, consumers of mental health services, and family members of people with mental disorders until April 20, 2010. The DSM-5 will be published in May 2013. Previously

The Art of Psychiatry

Gyan — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 11:48:48 -0800

Dictionary of Disorder - shaping the DSM

Art for Jazz

riffola — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 01:16:34 -0800

David Stone Martin (Coralized link) is not very well known, but you've most likely seen his work on featured on various jazz records. Be sure to view all three pages of some amazing album covers. (The original site is on Geocities, please be gentle)

Social outcasts aren't who you think

calwatch — Thu, 29 Apr 2004 00:12:41 -0800

Coping with Asperger's Syndrome. The New York Times sheds light on this disorder that potentially affects millions of Americans. Many of them are bullied in school. Others simply have strange obsessions. Some find their niches in college, while others have to wait until mid-life to understand what is happening. However, it was only added to the DSM ten years ago. Since then, support groups and online resources have popped up.