Exactly.
American psychiatric association. I know enough about the DSM. You mistake me for an idiot but the DSM isn't the only diagnostic tool for any psychological affliction. I'm not a doubter of the DSM necessarily, I'm just making a point that sometimes the DSMs diagnostic criteria is NOT enough for a real diagnosis and also too much for a real diagnosis. There is a lot of criticism for the DSM -it's not always reliable, there is much debate about the construct validity, there is way too much overlap and too many doctors rely on the patients subjective thoughts just to get them a diagnosis and get them out of the way, rather than using BEHAVIORS to define the problem. And for anyone who doesn't know, your thoughts are not a behavior, what you do as a result of those thoughts is a behavior, it is observable. I guess what I'm saying is that the DSM is relied on
too much.
I'm a troublemaker, you know that. I'm pointing out the problems on both ends. I'm on your side though, don't get me wrong. I don't think self diagnosis is the way to go in terms of mental health, I believe that the poster SHOULD seek professional
help rather than a
diagnosis of Bipolar.
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DSM-IV is the protocol for mental health diagnosis according to the American Psychiatric Association. In fact, they publish it. The DSM is the authoritative source for all mental-health related diagnosis. It is, literally, the be-all-end-all as far as practicing medical professionals are concerned. Any mental heath diagnosis you get is going to come straight from that book.
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As I said before, I'm well aware of what the DSM is and who publishes it, how it's used and all that jazz. But it's not the ONLY nor is it the most commonly used for diagnostic codes. The ICD is the be all end all (in the US in terms of coverage and care) for worldwide usage. I'm well aware the ICD contains criteria for all diseases and disorders, not only mental health, but it is the most widely used (I also know that the DSM is used in adjunction with it.)