Deb Legge

The DSM-5 Task Force recently posted the proposed draft revisions for the DSM disorders and criteria. From now until April 20th, the general public (including consumers and clinicians) are welcome to review the revisions and make comments and suggestions (http://www.dsm5.org ). The concepts of “pathology” and “diagnosis” generate quite a stir whenever they are the topics of discussion with my masters level counseling students. These issues, often spark debates that move into other controversial topics including: the role of pharmaceutical companies (money spent and commercial advertising) on stigma and the cost of medication; the use of psychiatric medication for children; the risks and benefits of client access to their diagnosis and clinical information regarding that diagnosis; and the implications of diagnosis on a consumer’s permanent medical file.