Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is a taxonomy of mental disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association and currently in its fourth edition (DSM-IV; 1994). The first edition was published in 1952 and was the first publication to categorize mental disorders for the purpose of clinical utility. Since that time, the DSM has developed into a tool that allows professionals from various fields to communicate effectively with one another for research, educational, statistical, and clinical purposes. The DSM is established within a medical model, a method with international recognition. It is complementary to the International Statistical Classification of Disease and Related Health Problems published by the World Health Organization.

The DSM is similar to any medical text outlining diagnoses used for categorization. Categorizing ...