Dsm-5 Disadvantages

672 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay On History Of Mental Illness

1. How have ideas evolved over time regarding the causes of mental disorders? Throughout history, the definition of mental disorders was based solely upon social prevalence due to the occurrence of erratic, behavioral disturbances. For instance, in the primitive times, presenting signs of madness or illness were determined to be a punishment from God or Pagan Deities which were believed to have to be alleviated by a religious figure, sorcerer, shaman or by an elected, witch doctor. As, time changed, so did the stigma behind the beliefs of the causation of mental illness, it was believed to be influenced by the spirit world or bewitchment, but when the Greeks and Romans developed a scientific approach describing the relationship between nature …show more content…

One advantage is that the DSM allows for professionals to communicate to patients about the relationship of their current, disruptive symptoms to a possible disorder with common attributes. One disadvantage is that the DSM does not resonate cross-culturally which can create an issue in diagnostics within a culture where mental illness is viewed, as a physical sickness or spiritual disharmony. Overall, the DSM-5 is the most simplified and modified version, it allows for a generic definition of mental disorders in relation with past behaviors, thought processes and emotions that lead to the abnormal, mental state. The DSM-5’s predecessors were impressive pieces of work, but lacked in certain areas of research and classification. For instance, the first DSM only separated psychiatric conditions from non-psychiatric conditions; the DSM-II theorized that disorders are only recognizable in their later stages of development and that the symptoms have to be defined, as regularly occurring or heritable; the DSM-III defines only those that are treatable conditions which carried into the DSM-IV, but was later revised to DSM-IV-TR where more empirical evidence was added along with the addition, removal, and reorganization of disorders which paved the way for the simplification of and the currently used

Show More
Related

  • The Mega-Marketing Depression Of Japan Case Study

    1346 Words  | 3 Pages

    Culture is a collection of religion, traditions, and beliefs that are passed down from generation to generation. Culture is created and maintained through the repetition of stories and behavior. It is never definite because it is continuously being modified to match current trends, however, historical principles are still relevant. With respect to mental illness, culture is crucial to how people choose to deal with society and the methods used to diagnose and cope with mental illnesses. In Watters’

    Read More

  • The Psychopath Test By Jon Ronson

    1144 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...s that the DSM can also falsely determine ones specific mental health, showing the struggle between diagnosing someone with genuine disorders and excessively diagnosing individuals.

    Read More

  • Psychiatric Evaluation and Diagnosis of Virginia Woolf

    773 Words  | 2 Pages

    Frances, A., & Ross, R. (1996). DSM-IV case studies a clinical guide to differential diagnosis. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, Inc.

    Read More

  • Schizophrenia and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the 1700s, "mad doctors" or doctors specializing in the mentally ill. "They began to devise their own unique classification system for mental disorders. Many cases of what we would now call schizophrenia were probably classified under one or more of these early attempts to devise a more scientific method of understanding mental illness"(Noll, xix). Doctors at this time described the symptoms of schizophrenia somewhat differently (Berle, 14).

    Read More

  • Rake’s Progress: Bedlam in Bethlam

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    The knowledge of mental illness was very small. Doctors did not understand how to diagnosis or treat mental disorders. They did not understand how the brain functioned and what to expect from people in certain situations. Many symptoms of physical illness today were considered mental illness in the eighteenth century. The constant shaking due to Parkinson’s disease was misinterpreted as a mental condition and treated as such4. These patients were placed into...

    Read More

  • Major Depression Disorder

    800 Words  | 2 Pages

    Evidence shows that Major Depression Disorder has been around four thousands of years. In the fourth century BC, Hippocrates referred to a group of symptoms including loss of appetite, insomnia, flat affect, and irritability as melancholia (Jackson). Taking accountability of melancholia appeared in ancient Mesopotamian texts in the second millennium B.C. At this time, any mental illness had something to do with the demons. It had to be checked by the priests. The first time that there was an understanding of depression it was truly considered more of a spiritual illness caused by demons rather than a physical illness. Ancient Greeks and Romans put taught about the causes of melancholia. For example in the 5th century B.C., Herodotus wrote about a king who was driven mad by evil spirits. Even early Babylonian, Chinese, and Egyptian civilizations point of view also related to mental illness, and used exorcism techniques (such as beatings, restraint, and starvation) which was designed to remove the demons. Roman and Greek doctors thought that depression was both a biological and psychological disease. Gymnastics, massage, special diets, music, and baths would help with the disorder.

    Read More

  • The History of Treating Mental Illness

    1895 Words  | 4 Pages

    The treatment of the mentally ill started back in the far past. In 400 BC, Hippocrates, who was a Greek physician, treated mental illness as diseases of disturbed physiology, and not displeasure of the Gods or demonic possession ("Timeline: Treatments for," ). Greek medical writers found treatments such as quiet, occupation, and the use of a drug called purgative hellebore ("Timeline: Treatments for,”). During these times, family members took care of the mentally ill ("Timeline: Treatments for,”). In the middle Ages, the Europeans let the mentally ill have their freedom, as long as they were not dangerous ("Timeline: Treatments for,”). The mentally ill were also seen as witches who were possessed by demons ("Timeline: Treatments for,”). In 1407, the first mental illness establishment was made in Valencia, Spain ("Timeline: Treatments for,”).

    Read More

  • What Are The Pros And Cons To Diagnosis In Clinical Social Work

    548 Words  | 2 Pages

    The DSM has been found to be somewhat bias. There are some pros and cons to the DSM as well. Some have found that it leads to uniform and improved diagnosis, improves informed professional communication through uniformity, and provides the basis for a comprehensive educational tool. While others believe it can lead to diagnostic labels, by providing limited information on the relationship between environmental considerations and aspects of the mental health condition. Lastly, it does not describe intervention strategies (Wakefield,

    Read More

  • Stigma In Mental Health

    1225 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the article Issues and Controversies says, "Throughout most of human history, people with mental illness were ostracized, isolated, and persecuted." ( Infobase,1) This belief system can give causation of mental illness in different cultures and such influences in a community will always be in a negative manner. Various societies struggle with the notion of mental health. The standards of every culture believe to be considered normal, natural, or healthy. These views lead to disagreements about the causes, diagnosis, and the treatment of the disorders. Many people with mental problems are discriminated against because of their mental disorder. Mental illness and stigma refers to the view of the person with mental illness as having undesirable traits. Stigma leads to negative behavior, stereotyping, and discriminatory behavior towards the person with mental health issues. This stigma causes the affected person to experience denial or shame of their condition. Perceived stigma can result in the patient being scared to seek help. Stigma can be divided into two perspectives, public and self stigma. Upadhyay says, "Public stigma occurs when the general

    Read More

  • Mental Health Care Essay

    1259 Words  | 3 Pages

    One major reason diagnosis can be helpful is that it gives various clinicians and professionals common language. It can be difficult when individuals transfer to or see various providers. Having common language can assist all professionals involved in working with a client by having an understanding of what the individual is experiencing. Common language also makes it helpful when clients transfer geographic locations or chose to see a new professional. Diagnoses are also useful in treatment planning. It gives a way of thinking about patterns of symptoms, and provides diagnostic reliability. McWilliams lists five advantages of diagnosis: “(1) its usefulness for treatment planning, (2) its implications for prognosis, (3) its contribution to protecting consumers of mental health services, (4) its value in enabling the therapist to convey empathy, (5) its role in reducing the probability that certain easily frightened people will feel from treatment” (2011, p.

    Read More

  • Norman Bates Case Study

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    Identification of any psychosocial or contextual factors to be considered, as outlined in the DSM-5

    Read More

  • The Dsm-5 Classification System

    1144 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a classification system which encompasses mental disorders along with the associated criteria and is published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. xIi). The criteria are useful in assisting mental health professionals in having more dependable diagnoses of mental disorders. The DSM has recently been revised. The revised version known as the DSM-5 is a classification system including separate disorders by category. However, not all mental disorders fit completely within the boundaries of a single disorder. Within the DSM-5, different components have been added along with 9 enhancements to stimulate ease of use (American Psychiatric

    Read More

  • History of Mental Illness

    1507 Words  | 4 Pages

    History shows that signs of mental illness and abnormal behavior have been documented as far back as the early Greeks however, it was not viewed the same as it is today. The mentally ill were previously referred to as mad, insane, lunatics, or maniacs. W.B. Maher and B.A. Maher (1985) note how many of the terms use had roots in old English words that meant emotionally deranged, hurt, unhealthy, or diseased. Although early explanations were not accurate, the characteristics of the mentally ill have remained the same and these characteristics are used to diagnose disorders to date. Cultural norms have always been used to assess and define abnormal behavior. Currently, we have a decent understanding of the correlates and influences of mental illness. Although we do not have complete knowledge, psychopathologists have better resources, technology, and overall research skills than those in ancient times.

    Read More

  • Abnormal Psychology Essay

    689 Words  | 2 Pages

    Those with psychological disorders were thought to be possessed by evil. If exorcism failed the proper authorities would attempt to beat the problems out of the person and various other forms of torture. Biological explanations say that mental illness and psychological problems are caused by biological reason. Hippocrates, also known as the father of western medicine attributed a lot in the studying of the biological tradition. Between 450 and 350 BC Hippocrates suggests that just like other diseases mental illness can also be treated.

    Read More

  • The Main Cause of Mental Illness

    1030 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mental illness is the condition that significantly impede with an individual’s emotional, cognitive or social abilities (Savy and Sawyer, 2009). According to (Savy and Sawyer, 2009) neurological, metabolic, genetic and psychological causes are contributing factors for various types of mental illness like depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse and progression of condition. An elaborate system known as DSM-IV-TR gives a classification system that acts to separate mental illness into diagnostic categories based on the description of symptoms of illness (Savy and Sawyer, 2009). The exact primarily causes of mental illness are complicated, however, it seems to occur in a psychologically and biologically prone individual, in the trigger of environmental and social stress (Elder, Evans and Nizette, 2007).

    Read More

More about Dsm-5 Disadvantages

Open Document