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Buy Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV by American Psychiatric Association available and for sale on Brightsurf
| View Larger Image | Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV
by American Psychiatric Association
| | List Price: | $49.95 |  | | 2 New starting at: | $100.00 | | 31 Used starting at: | $14.69 | | | | | Sales Rank: | 21213 | | Studio: | American Psychiatric Association | | | Binding: | Paperback | | Number Of Pages: | 886 | | Publication Date: | January 15, 1994 | | Publisher: | American Psychiatric Association |
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
...the ultimate mental health reference...presents diagnostic criteria for such problems as dissociative, mood, somatoform, or sleep disorders, schizophrenia, dementia, and delirium. |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 18 reviews)
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DSM IV 
I consider this an excellent reference manual.
It is not a book that you can casually read as it is technical, but very informative.
My therapist said that some people that read the book apply the illness to their personal feelings. That can be dangerous as only a trained psychiatrist can truly diagnose a person's mental condition.
August 18, 2007 | |
Some important clarifications 
First of all, don't get discouraged by the negative reviews because some of them (maybe most of them!) are clearly scientologist reviews. Scientologists believe that psychiatrists are behind the rise of Hitler, not to mention other interesting stuff such as, that Xenu, the galatic overlord, was helped by psychiatrists; this is actualy true, so...
Anyway, about the DSM-IV , I think it can be an excelent manual IF used properly. Classification is a somewhat inerently arbitrary activity and that should be understood. This classification should be understood as a frame of reference, not as a categoric and precise classification of diseases, since that is impossible given the huge complexity and/or size and nature of the task. Furthermore, psychology/psychiatry is a field still with much research to do so the manual also suffers from this lack of research.
Therefore, as long as DSM-IV is aproached with this in mind, it can be an excelent book because it puts mental health professionals speaking the same language. It's primary value is as a frame of reference for the mental health professionals and as such it is excelent.
Whatever way the insurance companies take advantage of this, it's not the fault of the DSM-IV. Whatever doctor prescribes medication without being necessary, it's his fault, not DSM's. Conspiracy theorists forget that there are good people in the world...
June 22, 2006 | |
For Diagnostic/Clinician Use
I think people often misunderstand or misinterpret the purpose of this publication.
In my opinion, this isn't a tool for deciding who's crazy, who's hyperactive or anything else. The true purpose of this book is to make sure that a proper diagnosis is made on a person who either willingly or unwillingly requests mental help from a psychiatrist. It's obnoxious to hear about how psychiatry/psychology is a sham, and an abuse of power... If you don't want to read or use the DSM, DON'T! Go with homeopathics, dianetics or whatever other methods you choose. You can argue with the DSM as much as you'd like, but you're arguing against the best scientists and clinicians in America.
Be sure to focus on the "real" details, not creed or misguided belief.
April 10, 2006 | |
The uses of this manual...
The DSM-IV (and DSM-IV-TR) is the primary manual used by clinicians to diagnose mental disorders. The cons are that 1) the manual categorizes mental disorders when it is entirely possible (perhaps even probable) that mental disorders lie on a continuum shared by normal behaviors, 2) political issues can and do influence which and how mental disorders are included in the manual, and 3) that interrater reliability (the degree of agreement among diagnoses when using the manual) is somewhere around 70% (clearly, not perfect). The pros are that 1) even if one thought abnormal behavior was on the same continuum of normal behavior, no one else has yet suggested a better way of assessing and diagnosing mental disorders, 2) the manual increases the ability to communicate about these disorders among clinicians and patients (which can be beneficial when considering treatment), and 3) it comprises a nice summary of what we know about mental disorders in a somewhat reasonably organized fashion.
So far, the benefits outweigh the problems (and frankly, we really don't have a better alternative). Clinicians may use it to diagnose, students may use it get a summary of what we know about particular mental disorders (but should refrain from diagnosing themselves or others as the criterias listed still need clinical expertise in judging whether or not the criteria applies to any one individual and/or behavior).
January 29, 2006 | |
Review the book, don't make political comments
Please stick to reviews of the book, and stop venting and expressing anger by giving the book bad reviews, when you should be taking these issues elsewhere.
December 29, 2005 | |
SIMILAR PRODUCTS |
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