Pathologies of the Diagnostic Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

[LostInTime]

had this one sent to me

In addition "it is also known that the diagnosis of some mental disorders is influenced by gender role expectations. That is, while diagnostic criteria do not mention gender, clinicians diagnose women's and men's behavior in different ways (Wikipedia, 2006). Clinicians own viewpoints can get in the way of an accurate diagnosis. A man who acts meek, shy, and compliant to the women in his life may be considered mentally ill while a woman would not. "Sexist values result in a higher rate of mental illness labeling for men, supposedly the more powerful social category, and less for women, who are generally powerless" (Keel, 2005). The way the DSM is classified does not allow for appropriate differences in gender role expectations nor does it discuss the etiology of supposed illness.

In Myth, Stereotype, and Cross-Gender Identity in the DSM-IV, Wilson & Hammond (1996) attack the DSM and the ridiculous issues that created classifications such as "transvestic fetishism". One has to wonder what good purpose the DSM was designed to serve.

[Attis]

I'm not surprised. In an introductory course to psychology, the teacher was a graduate student and remarked how it was interesting that all the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder were often considered normal traits in males as opposed to females [a number of the symptoms involved being sexually promiscuous, partaking in some heavy use of alcohol from time to time, and so on]. So you wonder why some folks get a bit disheartened with the DSM...

-- Brede

[Lisbeth]

The entire psychiatric community is affected by the cultural stereotype that says that women are incomplete men.  This plays out in the idea that it's normal for women to want to become men, but men who want to become women are abnormal.

[Melissa-kitty]

The DSM is subject to cultural influences, of course. It does serve a purpose, but that purpose is never to be supposed to be the be-all-and-end-all for any symptom or illness or phenomenon. The rewrite is in the planning stage, and you can sign up for updates:
http://www.dsm5.org/
It will still be less than perfect, and will reflect American white male prejudices, but I do get the impression that alternative views will be heard.
Blessings, Tara

[Lisbeth]

The DSM is subject to cultural influences, of course. It does serve a purpose, but that purpose is never to be supposed to be the be-all-and-end-all for any symptom or illness or phenomenon. The rewrite is in the planning stage, and you can sign up for updates:
http://www.dsm5.org/
It will still be less than perfect, and will reflect American white male prejudices, but I do get the impression that alternative views will be heard.
Blessings, Tara

I am not going to knock the DSM-IV as such.  It is never easy to create consensus among psychologists about diagnoses, and the DSM has improved with every edition.  But since I am going to have to live with it, both personally and professionally, for a long time, I wish it to be as useful as possible.