Mental disorders were first acknowledged as important, but separate from the medical field, by the father of medicine, Hippocrates around 400 B. C. , (Allen, 2001). Hippocrates theory that mental illness was equally as important as physical illness, both deriving from an imbalance of humors. The U. S. attempted the first official recording with the 1840 census, then the 1880 census included the first appearance of mental illness, divided into seven categories.
It was the sixth edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) that mental disorders finally had a specific section, though not accepted for lacking official organization and comprehensiveness. Deviating from the ICD-6, a manual of mental disorders to focus on clinical utility was published in 1952 (American Psychiatric Association, 2012). The first edition was titled Diagnostic and Statistical Manual: Mental Disorders (DSM).
This manual, and all revisions and editions thereafter, rely on Kraeplin’s descriptive, categorical classification system to diagnose and assess mental disorders (Moon, 2004). The DSM-5 publication, released in four months, May 2013, is reported to “mark one of the most anticipated events in the mental health field” (American Psychiatric Association, “DSM History”, 2012, p. 1). Origin of DSM Concept.
Though many classification systems had been created over the last three millennia, the variance of diagnostic categories ranged from few to thousands, with system principle objectives to categorize mental disorders differing from several different uses and settings (American Psychiatric Association, “DSM History”, 2012). From the Father Known as a man far ahead of his time and the father of medicine, the Greek doctor, Hippocrates, in 4th century B. C., theorized mental illness was equally as important to physical illness, postulating both illnesses were derived from an imbalance of humors (Smith, 2008).
His theory was the beginning for classifications immediately after him that would continue to develop but change themes throughout different era’s and centuries, including demon possession in the Middle Ages, witchcraft during the Renaissance, tendency towards biological explanations in the 17th century, to a multitude of changes still witnessed in the 21st century (Moon, 2004).
Insanity in the Census The first official attempt to collect information about mental health was made by the U. S. Successfully finding that “idiocy/insanity” were repeated in the 1840 census documentations, the 1880 census then incorporation seven categories of mental health: mania, melancholia, monomania, paresis, dementia, dipsomania, and epilepsy (American Psychiatric Association, “DSM-5:Overview”, 2012). DSM Catalyst.
Different diagnostic systems were available from differing agencies and institutions before the DSM was created, but the need to collect uniform statistics from mental hospitals required a classification system that was focused on clinical psychology, created unanimity about contemporary acknowledgment regarding psychiatric disorders, and gave mental health professional a communication guide for common diagnostic terminology (American Psychiatric Association, DSM-5: Overview, 2012). Birth of DSM-I.
The DSM-I differed from earlier systems that had limited diagnostic categories and aimed to serve governmental and institutional uses, this new diagnostic system was specifically for clinical psychiatrists, symptoms expanse was larger, and included lesser disorders for outpatient care (Allen, 2001). Immediate Benefits Gaebel and Zielasek (2008) reported the DSM “Profoundly affected the theory and practice of psychiatry by providing clinicians and researchers with an internationally adopted frame of reference, more rigorous and reliable diagnostic standards, and better tools of communication” (p.42).
The defined diagnosis inspired formation of specific treatments and was exceptionally valuable for psychiatric classification and psychopharmacology through increased reliability. Professionals now referenced the same systematic and standardized assessment instruments, now capable of communication and adaptability of diagnosis studied (Allen, 2001; Bloom, Kupfer, & American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 1995; Gaebel & Zielasek, 2008). Finding Fault After the initial excitement of the DSM benefits, weakness began to emerge and new editions and revisions were published.
DSM-II in 1968, DSM-III in 1979, DSM-III-R in 1987, DSM-IV in 1994, DSM-IV-TR in 2000 (Allen, 2001). “If history provides an accurate indication, many other revisions-some major, and some minor-are likely to follow, with considerable controversy and debate surrounding each. ” (Bloom et al. , 1995, p. 234). Bloom et al. (1995) mentions reliability was realized greater measuring larger DSM sections, such as personality or anxiety disorders, opposed to specific diagnosis like post-traumatic stress disorder.
This idea/par. is underdeveloped. A large scale community study findings called to question categorical approaches when the results were that one-sixth of populations received three or more diagnosis’s in a life span. The high comorbidity implicated the approach should be re-examined. Validity is questionable, too. It is imperative that disorders are identifiable from other disorders and between a disorder and the absence of a disorder (Allen, 2001; Bloom et al., 1995). Interchangeable or indistinct disorders have no justification as a category.
DSM receives heavy criticism for vagueness, distinguishing mental disorders from normal changes in behavior in diagnosing Major Depression Disorder particularly. Depression after a loved one dies is normal, but if depressive symptoms following a different major event, like a divorce, is diagnosed with Major Depression Disorder (Allen, 2001). Changing with the Times.
The newest edition, DSM-5, will be released in a few months for revisions to accommodate scientific advancements, changes in technology, and to make changes for outdated information and incorporate the results of the extensive review from prior editions and new evaluation (American Psychiatric Association, “DSM-5: Overview”, 2012). The DSM is also continually trying develop with the ICD. As the only two classification systems accepted and used, they systems are attempting to be as similar to one another as possible. Even with the newest edition soon to be released, it is living on borrowed time.
“Pharmacological research will play an important role in gradually replacing the DSM descriptive system with one that is increasingly based on etiology” (Bloom, 1995, para final). Conclusion Tracing the DSM back to Hippocrates theory of mental illness, enduring differing terms from the 4th century B. C. to 2013, infers Hippocrates was more than just a man ahead of his time or that society is habitually conflicted in theory development, an example: the yet published DSM-5 is already receiving criticism and other systems are currently in development phase.
First theorized in 400 B.C. , first official classification attempt not following until 1840, and the first edition finally being published in 1952 has demonstrated a timeline that is long and unfinished due to ever revolving societal beliefs. A systematic change from DSM to another system is inevitable. The DSM, significant for contributing benefits that brought psychiatrists together and provided unified tools for diagnosis, is already receiving credit as significant for new and developing systems which includes beneficial remnants, correcting the faulty weak areas in the DSM.
The DSM has a long history that includes many revisions and editions, more than earlier systems, and the future is not as optimistic. It will be a struggle to maintain current in the 21st century, and the classification and categorical system it was designed for cannot be revised, opening a much needed spot for an updated assessment system for mental disorders.
References Allen, J. B. (2011). The disorders: Specialty articles from encyclopedia of mental disorders. In Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. doi: 10.1016/B978-012267805-9/50019-5. Retrieved from http://scribd. com/doc66367958/THE-DISORDERS—Specialty-articles-from-the-encyclopedia-of-mental-health American Psychiatric Association. (2012). DSM-5 overview: The future manual.
Retrieved from www. dsm5. org/about/Pages/DSMVoverview/aspx American Psychiatric Association. (2012). DSM: History of the Manual. Retrieved from http://www. psychiatry. org/practice/dsm/dsm-history-of-the-manual. Bloom, F. E. , Kupfer, D. J. , & American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.(1995).
Psychopharmacology: The fourth generation of progress. New York: Raven Press. Retrieved from http://acnp. org/G4/GN401000082/CH081. html Gaebel, W. , & Zielasek, J. (2008). The DSM-V initiative “deconstructing psychosis” in the context of Kraeplin’s concept on nosology. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 258, 41-47. doi: http://dx. doi. org/10. 1007/s00406-008-2009-y Retrieved from http://www. ncbi. nlm. nig. gov/pubmed/18516517 Moon, K. F. (2004). History of Classification.
Retrieved from http://www. kadi. myweb. uga. edu/History_of_Classification. html Smith, W. D. (2008, November 13). Hippocrates. In Encyclopedia Britannica: Facts Matter. Encyclopedia Britannica. doi:www. britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/26627/Hippocrates/26627main/article ***Track Changes for comments*** Due Week 1 Day 5: History of Psychological Assessment Paper. Content (3 points)| Points Earned| Additional Comments| All key elements of the assignment are covered in a substantive way.
Select a significant event in the development of psychological testing (e. g. Chinese use of essay exams for civil service selection, use of alpha and beta testing in World War I, Wundt’s laboratory, development of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory [MMPI]). Prepare a 700 to 1,050-word paper exploring your selected event and its historical roots. In your paper, be sure to explain why the event is significant and how the event has impacted the development of psychological testing in the 21st century.
| | | The content is comprehensive, accurate, and/or persuasive. | | | The paper links theory to relevant examples of current experience and industry practice and uses the vocabulary of the theory correctly. | | | Major points are stated clearly and are supported by specific details, examples, or analysis. | | | Organization/Development (1 Point)| Points Earned| Additional Comments:| The paper has a structure that is clear, logical, and easy to follow. | | | The paper develops a central theme or idea.