The American Psychiatric Association has released a draft document of the fifth edition Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and is asking for public comment. The website, dsm5.org, has a list of proposed revisions to the DSM-5 that you can click on and read.
So, if you have any personal opinions on the classification of mental illnesses or if you have a general interest in psychiatry and mental health, click on the above link and take a look.
Do remember, though, that diagnosing mental illnesses is a subjective task, which is why the DSM changes as often as it does. Diagnosing is up to the individual psychiatrist. There are no blood tests or any objective measures for doctors to use. Those who do not fall neatly into the categories proposed must be diagnosed via the drugs that work to control their symptoms and hence, please the insurance companies.
Nevertheless, the proposed DSM-5 makes for interesting reading and is open to public comment.
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