DSMcriteria

DSMcriteria refers to the diagnostic criteria used in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association. The DSM provides standardized symptom criteria to help clinicians determine whether a patient meets criteria for a mental disorder and to guide treatment planning. The current widely used edition is DSM-5-TR (Text Revision, 2022); earlier versions remain in use in some settings.

For each disorder, the DSM presents a specific criteria set, including required symptoms, duration, and level of impairment. The criteria may include specifiers and differential-diagnosis guidance, and diagnoses are coded with ICD-10-CM codes. DSM criteria are intended to be applied through clinical assessment and do not replace professional judgment.

Across editions, the DSM has evolved: DSM-5-TR retained most structure but refined language, added cultural concepts of distress, and updated text. The manual eliminated the older multi-axial system and incorporated occasional dimensional assessment in some areas, while maintaining mainly categorical diagnoses.

Uses and limitations: DSM criteria are widely used in clinical care, research, and reimbursement, providing a common language for communication. Critics note concerns about reliability and validity, cultural bias, potential medicalization, and the influence of evolving science on diagnostic boundaries. Clinicians are advised to use DSM criteria alongside comprehensive assessment and cultural context.

See also: DSM-5, ICD-10-CM, American Psychiatric Association.