The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5 TR) is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the United States. It is intended to be used by clinicians of different theoretical orientations in all clinical settings.
DSM-5 consists of three major components:
Diagnostic Classification
Diagnostic Criteria Sets
Descriptive Text Diagnostic Classification
The diagnostic classification is the official list of mental disorders recognized in the DSM. Each diagnosis includes a diagnostic code typically used by individual providers, institutions, and agencies for data collection and billing purposes.
These diagnostic codes are derived from the coding system used by all U.S. healthcare professionals, known as the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-10).
Diagnostic Criteria Sets For each disorder included in DSM-5 TR
a set of diagnostic criteria indicates symptoms that must be present (and for how long) and a list of other symptoms, disorders, and conditions that must first be ruled out to qualify for a particular diagnosis. While these criteria help increase diagnostic reliability (i.e., the likelihood that two doctors would come up with the same diagnosis when using the DSM-5 to assess a patient), it is important to remember that these criteria are meant to be used by trained professionals using clinical judgment; they are not meant to be used by the general public in a cookbook fashion.
Descriptive Text
The third area of DSM-5 is the descriptive text that accompanies each disorder. The text of DSM-5 provides information about each disorder under the following headings:
Diagnostic Features
Associated Features Supporting Diagnosis
Subtypes and/or Specifiers
Prevalence
Development and Course
Risk and Prognostic Factors
Diagnostic Measures
Functional Consequences
Culture-Related Diagnostic Issues
Gender-Related Diagnostic Issues
Differential Diagnosis
Recording Procedures
