DSM5criteria

DSM5criteria refers to the diagnostic criteria used in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association in 2013. Each disorder in the manual has a formal criteria set that clinicians apply to determine whether a patient meets the diagnosis. Criteria are typically organized with sections labeled by letters (for example, Criterion A) and specify the core symptoms, required duration, and additional features needed for a diagnosis.

In practice, a diagnosis is usually made when a person exhibits a minimum number of specified symptoms from the criteria, has those symptoms for a defined period, and experiences clinically significant distress or impairment. Symptoms must not be attributable to a substance, another medical condition, or another psychiatric disorder. Many diagnoses also include specifiers, severity ratings, and contextual factors to convey the illness course and presentation.

The DSM-5 marked several changes from its predecessor, DSM-IV, including the elimination of the multi-axial system and a move toward integrating cultural concepts of distress. It also introduced broader “Other specified” and “Unspecified” categories to accommodate clinically relevant presentations that do not fit neatly into existing disorders. DSM-5-TR, released in 2022, provides textual revisions and updates to certain criteria and enhances cultural considerations.

DSM-5 criteria are used by clinicians for diagnosis, treatment planning, and communication among professionals, and they guide research and, in some settings, coding for reimbursement. They are periodically reviewed and revised by APA committees and expert panels. Examples of criteria exist for many disorders, including mood, anxiety, psychotic, and neurodevelopmental conditions.