Unit II Essay: Exploring DSM-5 and Diagnostic Tools in Psychology

This blog post assignment explores the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a key diagnostic tool used by mental health professionals to classify and diagnose mental disorders. The blog introduces the DSM-5, explaining its purpose and application. It also discusses at least two other diagnostic tools, such as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders (CCMD), highlighting their roles and scopes. Furthermore, the assignment emphasizes the importance of cultural competency in psychology, addressing how the field aims to be inclusive and account for cultural differences in mental health assessment and treatment. The blog post is formatted in APA style and includes a reference page, utilizing resources from the Waldorf Online Library and the assigned textbook. The assignment aims to educate readers about abnormal psychology and the tools used in its practice.

BLOG: ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL
DISORDERS (DSM) AND OTHER TOOLS
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM: published in the
year 2013) is a publicated document of classification of mental disorders using a common
language and standard criteria. The American Psychiatric Association has published it for the
clinicians, mental health workers, researchers, activists, psychiatric drug associations and
agencies, health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, World Health
Organization, statutes and policy builders (American Psychiatric Association., 2013).
DSM IN DETAILS

DSM is a handbook that is used by the mental health professionals all over the United
States of America. The book has the detailed description and information of all kinds of
psychological illness and how to diagnose them effectively. It has certain customary
languages for the psychiatrists and other clinical doctors who are to diagnose and
communicate the issues by interacting with the patients (Edition, 2013).
IS DSM REVISED?
Since the first publication of DSM in the year 1952, the DSM documentations are
reviewed and revised periodically. Almost a two decades before, the previous version of
DSM was completed. Afterwards, the DSM has been updated with rich sources of research
and knowledge of mental health and disorders (Edition, 2013).
WHO WERE INVOLVED IN DSM DEVELOPMENT?

The American Psychiatric Association made a think tank that involved more than 160
researchers and clinicians from all around the world to be members of the DSM work groups,
study groups and groups that researched and contributed to the information tank of mental
health and disorders in the manual and document. The experts were from different
backgrounds, such as neuroscience, biology, forensic, counselling psychology, criminology,
abnormal psychology and so on. The members participated and also regularly participate in a
solemnly voluntary manner where they research in various mental health disciplines to
provide information and interventions (Edition, 2013).
ARE THERE OTHER TOOLS?
DSM is considered to be the most popular diagnostic system for mental disorders in
the U.S. However, in the European countries and other parts of the world, International
Classification of Diseases (ICD) that is produced by the World Health Organization is used
widely and blatantly in order to tackle and study more about psychiatric disorders (World
Health Organization, 2014). However, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) has
a broader scope than DSM because it covers overall health. The chapter 5 of ICD covers
mental and behavioral disorders. Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders, which is

published by the Chinese Society of Psychiatry (CSP) is a clinical guide that is utilized in
China by the chinese clinicians, mental health professionals, doctors, psychiatric drug
agencies and associations, legal systems and policy makers in order to diagnose mental
disorders in the respective nation. The Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders is currently
in the third version, also known as CCMD- 3 that has been written in Chinese and English
with over forty culturally related diagnoses (Xu et al., 2016).

References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental
disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Pub.
Edition, F. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Am Psychiatric
Assoc.
World Health Organization. (2014). International classification of diseases (ICD) information
sheet. found at http://www. who. int/classifications/icd/factsheet/en.
Xu, J., Wang, J., Wimo, A., & Qiu, C. (2016). The economic burden of mental disorders in
China, 2005–2013: implications for health policy. Bmc Psychiatry, 16(1), 137.