Dsm IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Hardcover)

by American Psychiatric Association (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Long awaited new edition of the standard reference on the classification of mental disorders, commonly called DSM. For psychiatrists, psychologists, libraries, coding and reimbursement personnel. DNLM: Mental Disorders classifications.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 886 pages
• Publisher: American Psychiatric Association; 4th edition (May 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0890420610
• ISBN-13: 978-0890420614
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.9 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #355,809 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite a good read, despite a reputation for being dry., July 23, 1998

By A Customer

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV referring to the 4th edition) is often called "the psychiatrist's bible." Like a certain other Bible, DSM-IV is not holy writ (and indeed, in the introduction it explicitly states that the criteria contained therein are intended to be used only as guidelines), but it does provide an interesting look at Western culture. The evolution of the DSM has been fascinating, and I'm sure that when the next edition comes out, those of us who weren't involved in the writing will look upon the changes with curiosity and interest. (Those who were involved in the construction of this book may no longer be on speaking terms! It's an incredibly political undertaking, and I admire them for having the courage and the persistence to carry it through.)

Some of the disorders defined in DSM-IV, such as the Substance-Related Disorders and the relatively new diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, bear a razor! -sharp specificity and resemblance to reality. The well-established Psychotic Disorders, often considered the most severe type of mental illness, and the Mood and Personality Disorders, which the meat and potatoes of psychiatry, will no doubt continue to evolve, and I will look forward to seeing the next edition of this exciting book.

Not to be missed are the delightful appendices, which include such gems as the Defensive Functioning Scale and a number of tentative "investigational criteria sets - descriptions of disorders which are not presently diagnosed (officially) but which may be in the future.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference book., March 22, 1998

By A Customer

This book was required reading for one of my classes in the Master's Program at Portland State University to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. I refer to it regularly as it is a required reference for other classes. It answers many questions about the various mental disorders. It is well worth having, especially if you are working in the mental health field or dealing with the mental health field in any capacity. This edition contains more information and is easier to use than the DSM-III or the DSM-IIIR, which I have also used.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DSM-IV: Neither Truth nor Tripe, March 21, 1998

By A Customer

The DSM-IV has taken its share of knocks recently, perhapsmost powerfully from Herb Kutchins, and Stuart A. Kirk in Making UsCrazy : DSM : The Psychiatric Bible and the Creation of Mental Disorders (Free Press, 1997). Yet virtually nobody involved in any of the helping/human service professions can afford to practice without the DSM-IV, or one of its spin-offs, on his or her desk. It is rumored that lawyers have bought more copies than psychiatrists, but the American Psychiatric Press isn't telling. Full of flaws, contradictions, and sheer nonsensicalities, the DSM-IV nonetheless stands as the best the scientific world has devised in describing and diagnosing mental illnesses.

People who don't believe in mental illness, who think most psychiatrists are stranger than their patients, or who think that meditation, oriental massage, or past life regression are all the solutions we need to human problems will find no comfort in the DSM-IV. Neither will those who don't consider a science to be real unless its state of development permits its concepts to be expressed in equations rather than mere language. But in a world full of nervous, despondent, deluded, nasty, selfish, withdrawn, and otherwise troubled and troublesome folks, the DSM-IV, imperfect as are the people it describes and who compiled it, is the best guide we have in trying to make sense of it all.

^M^MA 14 year old boy is depressed. Is it just a phase, or is it serious enough to require medication to prevent his suicide? A 57 year old woman starts believing that her neighbors are pumping poison gas into her apartment. Does she need a gas mask, reassurance, brain surgery, or Prozac? A 30 year old woman is fondled in a supermarket and wants five million dollars from the store's owners for the emotional suffering she will experience for the rest of her life. Is she re-experiencing traumatic episodes of childhood abuse or is she a swindler? Stunningly important questions, all. Do we have perfect answers? No way. But do we need help in grappling with them? We sure do.

^M^MThe DSM-IV is powerfully political, full of bad science, and is probably over-valued in every setting in which it isused. Yet it represents the best summary of the work of thousands of people, all struggling to solve some of the most crucial problems we face in medicine, psychology, law, and social welfare. We need the DSM-IV critics, but we also need the DSM-IV.