PREVIEW

Radical Changes Could Transform Psychiatry’s Diagnostic Manual. How mental illness is diagnosed could soon look very different. The American Psychiatric Association says it is radically rethinking the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, often described as psychiatry’s bible. The APA says the DSM could get a new name, new contributors and a new approach. One proposal would rename it the Diagnostic Scientific Manual of Mental Disorders, reflecting a broader, more flexible framework. The aim is to turn the DSM into a more dynamic guide that is inclusive, educational and better able to support effective treatment. Unlike physical illnesses, mental health conditions rarely have clear biological tests. The DSM has long helped clinicians diagnose disorders based on observed symptoms, and it plays a key role in treatment decisions, insurance and billing. Research suggests more than half of people will experience a psychiatric disorder in their lifetime. Major changes are now being considered. The APA plans to involve people with lived experience of mental illness in shaping diagnostic definitions and to place greater emphasis on a person’s life history, environment and biology, not just symptoms. Dr Jonathan Alpert says the goal is to move beyond appearances and better reflect underlying mechanisms. There is no timeline for the changes, but experts hope the DSM will evolve into a more flexible tool that recognises the complexity of the human brain.
Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT