New manual of American psychiatry

• April 24, 2024

The recent publication of the new draft of the mental diagnosis manual of the American Psychiatric Association , considered the "Bible" of psychiatric research in the world, has raised a wave of controversy and disagreement . This fifth version of the DSM-5 (in English, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health) collects a whole series of novel disorders and psychological deviations that have been registered in recent years and that for many specialists means an unnecessary expansion of categories. They fear that this new classification will forever blur the borders between mentally ill and the increasingly reduced space of those considered "normal".

In a special edition dedicated to the subject, the scientific journal Journal of Mental Heath, openly raises whether after the start-up of the new parameters Someone may be considered mentally healthy. It is argued that the problem could stem from the insufficient research that has been done to consider these recent disorders as something abnormal. "Critics of the DSM are concerned about the classification of novel conditions as psychological disorders . In the new edition, the tantrums of a child and the pain derived from the loss of a loved one could be defined as mental health problems, "he writes. Jerome Wakefield from the New York Department of Psychiatry.

The problem with this manual, which practically guides the diagnosis of the global disease , is that each of the changes registered in their editions has a global impact.

The most controversial new mental disorders

One of the greatest detractors is Allen Frances , responsible for the previous edition, the DSM-4, published 16 years ago.

According to published Frances in the magazine Psychiatric Times, the new most controversial categories are:Depressive mixed anxiety : since it does not present specific symptoms, it does not make any difference with the hardships of everyday life.Neurocognitive minor: especially designed for those over 50, could cover all those who have memory problems related to aging.Binge eating: from now on, the dozens of millions of people who eat compulsively once a week, if they do so for three months, could be classified as mentally ill.Dysfunctional temperament with dysphoria: Although defined as a symptom of bipolar disorder, by the way it is described in the new manual, it could be applicable to large sectors of the population.Addictive behaviors: Currently, bets or pathological gambling are included. However, there is a fear that the next thing is to classify Internet addiction, or credit cards.Hypersexuality disorder: Frances fears that this new category will give people with this disorder a psychiatric excuse under which to hide.Risk of psychosis: What is disputed is that this category is applied preventively, not to people who have manifested the disease, but in those who could be classified as schizophrenic in the future.

It is, says Frances, sophisticated names for behaviors that, although illogical, are completely generalized.