DSM-III

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM-III) is a publication by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) that was released in 1980. It is a comprehensive classification system for mental disorders, providing standardized criteria for the diagnosis of psychiatric conditions. The DSM-III marked a significant shift in the field of psychiatry, moving towards a more empirical and research-based approach to diagnosis.

Development and History

The development of the DSM-III was initiated in the 1970s under the leadership of Dr. Robert Spitzer, who chaired the task force responsible for its creation. The DSM-III was developed in response to criticisms of the previous editions, particularly the DSM-II, which were seen as lacking in scientific rigor and reliability.

The DSM-III introduced a multi-axial system for diagnosis, which allowed clinicians to assess patients on multiple dimensions, including:

• Axis I: Clinical disorders, including major mental disorders, as well as developmental and learning disorders.
• Axis II: Personality disorders and intellectual disabilities.
• Axis III: General medical conditions that may be relevant to the understanding or management of the individual's mental disorder.
• Axis IV: Psychosocial and environmental factors contributing to the disorder.
• Axis V: Global assessment of functioning, providing a numerical score to assess the individual's overall level of functioning.

Impact and Reception

The DSM-III was revolutionary in its approach, emphasizing descriptive diagnosis based on observable symptoms rather than theoretical assumptions about etiology. This shift was influenced by the Feighner Criteria and the Research Diagnostic Criteria, which aimed to improve diagnostic reliability and validity.

The DSM-III was widely adopted and became a standard reference in the field of psychiatry. It facilitated research and communication among mental health professionals by providing a common language for the classification of mental disorders.

Criticisms

Despite its advancements, the DSM-III faced criticism for its categorical approach to diagnosis, which some argued oversimplified the complexity of mental disorders. Critics also pointed out that the manual was heavily influenced by the prevailing biomedical model, potentially neglecting psychosocial factors.

Revisions and Successors

In 1987, the DSM-III was revised and updated as the DSM-III-R, which addressed some of the criticisms and incorporated new research findings. The DSM-III-R was later succeeded by the DSM-IV in 1994.

Also see

• DSM-II
• DSM-III-R
• DSM-IV
• ICD-10
• Robert Spitzer
• American Psychiatric Association

References

• American Psychiatric Association. (1980). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
• Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. W. (1980). "Classification of mental disorders: The DSM-III perspective." Science, 211(4485), 401-406.