Cleg Article: Teaching About Mental Health and Illness Through the History of the DSM

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the notes on the history and evolution of the DSM.

DSM

A standardized classification system for mental disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association; evolves from theory-laden, psychodynamic roots to symptom-based, culturally aware, and empirically validated criteria across editions.

Medical 203

A 1946 War Department document that used 'disorder' and 'reactions' and favored psychodynamic language, influencing the development of DSM–I.

Disorder vs. Reaction

In Medical 203, 'disorder' denotes a generic psychopathology, while 'reactions' are dynamic responses to distress, reflecting a psychodynamic view.

Homosexuality removal (DSM history)

Homosexuality appeared in DSM–II but was removed by the seventh printing due to social and political pressure.

DSM-I

First DSM edition (1952); retains psychodynamic language and a largely biological orientation, with terms like psychoneuroses.

DSM-II

Second edition (1968); aligned more with ICD, added childhood disorders, and reduced 'reaction' language while keeping a psychodynamic base.

DSM-III

Major shift to a medical, criterion-based system with discrete disorders; emphasizes diagnosis over etiology and uses symptom clusters; avoids terms like 'a schizophrenic'.

Robins & Guze

Pioneers of diagnostic validity criteria; promoted empirical evidence as the basis for psychiatric diagnoses.

Spitzer

Chair of the DSM–III Task Force; advocated for criterion-based, atheoretical diagnosis and later influenced DSM revisions toward data-oriented psychiatry.

DSM-III-R

1987 revision of DSM–III; reorganized categories, added developmental disorders, and refined criteria based on emerging data.

DSM-IV

Edition (1994) emphasizing reorganization, culture considerations, and a bio-psycho-social model; used a systematic review and data-driven revision process.

Culture-specific / Culture-bound syndromes

DSM–IV includes culture variations and culture-bound syndromes, emphasizing reporting of cultural context and cross-cultural applicability.

Bio-psycho-social model

Concept endorsed in DSM–IV; mental illness arises from an interwoven biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

DSM-IV-TR

Text revision of DSM–IV (2000) with few category changes but clarifications and updates; serves as a transitional edition.

Theory-neutral / Atheoretical approach

DSM–III’s stance to avoid etiological theories to ensure broad clinical use; later debated as potentially impossible to achieve in practice.

DSM-V (anticipated in notes)

The planned fifth edition following DSM–IV–TR, anticipated for publication around 2012, continuing the evolution of diagnostic classification.