Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

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DSM's Latest Mental Disorder: Caffeine Withdrawal

Must have 3 of 5 symptoms, according to DSM-5

(Newser) - If you've ever gone a day without caffeine and felt like you were going insane, well, you may not have been far off. The American Psychiatric Association has added caffeine withdrawal to the latest version of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. To be officially diagnosed, you...

New Psychiatry 'Bible' Under Fire

Critics say it's too broad, confusing

(Newser) - A new edition of the manual doctors use to diagnose mental illness, the DSM, has just been released by the American Psychiatric Association—but it has already been stirring up controversy for months, reports CBS . Most critically, the director of the National Institute of Mental Health has spoken out against...

How the New DSM Took My Syndrome Away
How the New DSM Took My Syndrome Away
OPINION
Dec 4, 2012 1:13 PM CST

How the New DSM Took My Syndrome Away

Man mourns demise of Asperger's to 'autism spectrum disorder'

(Newser) - Joshua Muggleton isn't just at peace with his Asperger's syndrome, it's become a part of his identity, a source of pride. "When I meet a fellow Aspie, I feel a sense of fraternity," he writes in the Guardian . "This person, unlike the other 99%...

Experts Redefine Crazy, Include 'Binge-Eating'

And Asperger's joins the autistic spectrum

(Newser) - The American Psychiatric Association wrapped up a 13-year edit of its highly influential book of mental disorders this weekend. Full details of the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—known as DSM—will emerge in May, but Time reports on the biggest changes:
  • Asperger's syndrome will lose
...

Bite Your Nails? You Might Have an Official Disorder

Severe cases expected to be categorized as OCD

(Newser) - Those who can't stop biting their nails might soon be able to lay claim to an official-sounding excuse: They have obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Health on Today blog reports that the American Psychiatric Association plans to classify severe cases under the OCD label when the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of...

Asperger Syndrome? Nope, Just a Nerdy Teenager
Asperger Syndrome? Nope,
Just a Nerdy Teenager
OPINION
Feb 1, 2012 12:20 PM CST

Asperger Syndrome? Nope, Just a Nerdy Teenager

Because of current definition, Benjamin Nugent got a bogus diagnosis

(Newser) - Psychologists may soon narrow the definition of autism , which could reduce the number of people diagnosed with the disorder and related ones such as Asperger Syndrome. The move is controversial, but if you're looking for a compelling reason in favor, see Benjamin Nugent's essay in the New York ...

Grieving? You May Soon Qualify as 'Depressed'

Controversial change to criteria is under review

(Newser) - Doctors are considering what would be a controversial change to the definition of depression, reports the New York Times . For the first time, the official criteria to determine who gets diagnosed would include grief. Doctors who oppose the move say grief after the death of a loved is a perfectly...

No More Epidemic? Autism Definition May Change

Proposed revisions would exclude many now considered autistic: NYT

(Newser) - The New York Times has what sounds like a bombshell story on autism: The American Psychiatric Association is poised to narrow the definition of the disorder so far fewer people would be considered autistic. The kicker quote from the Yale author of an analysis on the subject: "The proposed...

Shrinks Discuss Rewrite of Psychiatric Bible

New DSM could make temper tantrums a mental illness

(Newser) - The American Psychiatric Association will unveil dozens of proposals for new psychiatric disorders today, as it begins its first revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—or DSM, as the kids call it—since 1994. Kids prone to temper tantrums might soon be diagnosed with “temper...

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