DSM REVISION WELL UNDER WAY
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has announced the development of the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) is well under way, with a draft version scheduled to be released in 2010 and the final version scheduled for publication in 2012.
The APA began the process of updating the manual in 1999 with a series of planning conferences. These sessions led to 13 National Institute of Health (NIH)–supported international research conferences and the publication of a series of monographs containing research reviews developed in these conferences. More than 400 scientists, clinicians, and others with expertise in all areas of psychiatry and from around the world participated.
Due to the widespread interest and far-reaching impact of the DSM the APA created a Web site, DSM5.org, to accept comments from wider research and consumer communities. The general public, clinicians, and advocacy groups were invited to submit questions, comments, and research, which were distributed to the relevant work groups. In addition, updates for each work group are published quarterly on DSM5.org.
Following the release of the draft version of the DSM-V in 2010, there will be a period of comment where the work groups will review submitted questions, comments, and concerns. The diagnostic criteria will be revised and the final draft will be submitted to the APA's Council on Research, Assembly, and Board of Trustees for review and approval before final publication in 2012. It is expected that the DSM-V will be accompanied by a range of clinical assessment and training aids and an infrastructure to accommodate continuous updates of diagnostic criteria to reflect research advances and improve diagnosis.
-Adapted from: “Process to Revise DSM Well Under Way”, by Caroline Cassels, Medscape Medical News 2009, at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/586469, retrieved 1/12/09.
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