Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
What is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is an official resource authored by the American Psychiatric Association which contains information to help healthcare professionals understand mental disorders. Now in its fifth edition, the DSM contains a comprehensive overview of current research surrounding each mental disorder.
The DSM also aims to provide healthcare professionals with the details of a mental disorder in all applicable settings, such as during inpatient and outpatient care, to enable them to provide accurate diagnoses and treatment. In an attempt to make the comprehensive volume accessible as a reference, it’s structured in a linear manner based on age, with mental disorders most likely to occur during childhood at the start and mental disorders most likely to affect senior patients at the end.
Why is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) important in healthcare?
Like many aspects of health, our knowledge surrounding mental disorders is constantly changing and evolving as new research is conducted. The DSM is an authoritative reference of the latest research and recommendations for a variety of mental disorders. The text allows healthcare professionals to not only recognize when patients are suffering from certain mental disorders but also treat them with confidence via known effective methods.
Considering the significant impact that mental disorders can have on a patient, the DSM indirectly enables patients to live better, more fulfilling lives, while also enabling healthcare professionals to make more educated decisions.