Home > Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

While widely accepted among psychologists and psychiatrists, the manual has proved controversial in its listing of certain characteristics as mental disorders. The most notorious example is the listing in the DSM-II of homosexuality as a mental disorder; a classification that was removed by vote of the APA in 1973 (see also homosexuality and psychology).

1 Brief history of DSM

• The first edition (DSM-I) was published in 1952, and had about 60 different disorders.

• DSM-II was published in 1968.

Both of these editions were strongly influenced by the psychodynamic approach. There was no sharp distinction between normal and abnormal , and all disorders were considered reactions to environmental events. Mental disorders existed on a continuum of behavior. This way, everyone is more or less abnormal. The people with more severe abnormalities have more severe difficulties with functioning.

The early editions of the DSM distinguished between a psychosis and a neurosis. A psychosis is a severe mental disorder characterized by a break with reality. Psychoses typically involve hallucinations, delusions, and illogical thinking. A neurosis is a milder mental disorder characterized by distortions of reality, but not a complete break with reality. Neuroses typically involve anxiety and depression.

• In 1980, with DSM-III, the psychodynamic view was abandoned and the medical model became the primary approach, introducing a clear distinction between normal and abnormal. The DSM became "atheoretical", since it had no preferred etiology for mental disorders.

• In 19871987 is a common year starting on Thursday. Events January January 1 Nunavut's capital changes it name to Iqaluit from Frobisher Bay. January 3 Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 4 An Amtrak train the DSM-III-R appeared as a revision of DSM III.

• In 1994, it evolved into DSM-IV. This book is currently in its fourth edition.

• The most recent version is the 'Text Revision' of the DSM-IV, also known as the DSM-IV-TR, published in 2000This page is about the year 2000. See 2000 AD for the UK comic book, Number 2000 for other uses. 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar), and also the International Year for a Culture of Peace''. Events Y2K passes without the seri.

• DSM-V, is not scheduled for publication until 20102010 is a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). See also: 2010: Odyssey Two Events January 15 Annular solar eclipse (The longest lasting annular eclipse of the 21st century. February 12 to February 28 2010 Winter Olympics scheduled in Va. The APA Division of Research does not expect to begin forming DSM development workgroups until 20052005 is a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). It has been designated: The World Year of Physics The International Year of Microcredit The International Year for Sport and Physical Education The United States Year of Foreign or later.