DSM-II

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Second Edition (DSM-II) is a publication by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) that was released in 1968. It is the second edition in the series of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which provides a comprehensive classification of mental disorders.

History

The DSM-II was developed as a revision of the DSM-I, which was published in 1952. The need for a revised edition arose from the evolving understanding of mental disorders and the desire to improve the reliability and validity of psychiatric diagnoses. The DSM-II was influenced by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), specifically the ICD-8, to ensure consistency in the classification of mental disorders internationally.

Content

The DSM-II contains 182 disorders, which are categorized into 11 major classes. These classes include:

• Organic Brain Syndromes
• Mental Retardation
• Disorders of Psychogenic Origin
• Psychoses
• Neuroses
• Personality Disorders
• Psychophysiological Disorders
• Special Symptoms
• Transient Situational Disturbances
• Behavior Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence
• Other Conditions

Each disorder is described with a brief definition and diagnostic criteria, although these criteria were less specific than those found in later editions of the DSM.

Significance

The DSM-II played a crucial role in the development of psychiatric diagnosis and treatment during the late 20th century. It reflected the prevailing psychoanalytic theories of the time, which emphasized the psychogenic origins of mental disorders. However, the DSM-II was criticized for its lack of empirical support and the vagueness of its diagnostic criteria.

Criticism and Controversy

One of the major criticisms of the DSM-II was its inclusion of homosexuality as a mental disorder. This classification was met with significant opposition from both the psychiatric community and the public, leading to its eventual removal in the 1973 revision of the DSM-II.

Revisions

In 1974, a revised version of the DSM-II was published, which included changes to the classification of certain disorders, most notably the removal of homosexuality as a mental disorder. This revision was a precursor to the more comprehensive changes that would be introduced in the DSM-III.

Legacy

The DSM-II set the stage for the development of more scientifically rigorous diagnostic criteria in subsequent editions of the DSM. It highlighted the need for a more standardized approach to psychiatric diagnosis, which was addressed in the DSM-III with the introduction of explicit diagnostic criteria and a multiaxial system.

Also see

• DSM-I
• DSM-III
• International Classification of Diseases
• American Psychiatric Association
• History of psychiatry