DSM-IV

The DSM-IV and its Criticisms

The DSM-IV, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Diseases, is a standard mechanism used by health professionals to diagnose psychiatric disorders. Despite its popularity, the approach has garnered considerable criticism. DSM-5 lacks scientific validity, according to Speigel, because it concentrates on the use of medical words to differentiate existing mental illnesses. DSM-IV fails to provide importance and precise information that could potentially be used to effectively diagnose patients’ mental illnesses (Speigel, 2005). Because current medicine and healthcare are primarily focused on the specific approach to the individual patient, the nature of DSM IV is problematic in terms of mental health and modernized medication in particular. This means that medical professionals should handle each case with much consideration of peculiar characteristics of each patient. (Maser & Patterson, 2002). It is, therefore, necessary to carry out detailed research and analysis in contrast to psychology of each patient independently.

Another Criticism of DSM-IV

Another Criticism of DSM-IV is that the process only focuses on the weaknesses and ignores the strengths of a disorder. Medical health professionals are therefore limited to the negatives of the disorder, limiting their ability to find more information about the disease. In other words, mental health experts need to comprehend what is the essential cause of the disorder and components that can bother the mental condition of a patient. DSM-IV approach does not so much give social insurance experts the likelihood to enough research the reason for a psychological issue and factors that can impact or alter the improvement and advancement of the disorder (Speigel, 2005).

Insufficiency and Difficulties in Diagnosis

Also, the description is often insufficient for the advancement of a viable treatment; however, it is essential to concur that it can enable diagnosing a mental condition. However, the depiction of psychological state does not take into consideration conditions of different mental states and psychological conditions of patients (Maser & Patterson, 2002). Concurrently, difficulties may arise in the diagnosing process and as a result, cause much more problems than expected.

References

Speigel, D. R. (2008). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Panic Disorder: Their

Interrelationships and a Unique Utilization of Beta-Receptor Agonists. Psychosomatics, 49(6), 546. doi:10.1176/appi.psy.49.6.546

Maser, J.D., Patterson, T. Spectrum and nosology: implications for DSM-V. Psychiatry. Clin.

North Am. 2002;25:855–885.