The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition

Classification of DSM-5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, (DSM-5)     categorical classification is an approach used for diagnosing personality disorders (Armour, Műllerová, & Elhai, 2016). The categorical method diagnostic system approach has various strengths and limitations that have been identified by clinicians and researchers.

The categorical approach is suitable, and it is regularly used by clinicians to diagnose psychiatric disorders because the existence or nonappearance of a certain condition essentially provides information concerning the suitable approach required for treatment. In this approach, a person can either be pregnant or not pregnant since it is an absolute condition. The categorical threshold is then used to establish the most appropriate treatment approach (Armour, Műllerová, & Elhai, 2016). In addition, the categorical approach is associated with a great extent of overlap of disorders linked with personality and various mental disorders. The approach is easy to use since it is possible to obtain greater accuracy as it limits the loss of diagnostic simplicity.

The use of a categorical approach downplays the types and degree of personality disorders symptoms since they may differ based on culture, gender, and development stage (Waugh, Hopwood, Krueger, Morey, Pincus & Wright, 2017). Therefore it results in methodical under considerations of the significance of existing disparities in undisguised symptoms. Additionally, when using the DSM system in the categorical approach, a number of individuals are diagnosed to have more than one disorder, which appears to be artifactual.

Dimensional model is more convenient for situations that range continuously, that is, from a healthy state to an unhealthy state. Therefore it provides a more accurate approach as compared to the categorical approach. Dimensional approach presents personality disorder in a continuous dimension regardless of the extend of the available conditions.

To address cultural biases and value judgments in the diagnosis of mental disorders, the criteria were modified to factor in a diverse culture. Additionally, DSM-5 approaches distress based on the cultural concept and puts into considerations how different cultures recount symptoms (Waugh, Hopwood, Krueger, Morey, Pincus & Wright, 2017). Therefore, the concepts help clinicians in acknowledging people’s different cultural perceptions and beliefs concerning psychological issues.

Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemical messengers that authorize neurons to transmit signals from one cell to another in the nervous system, and they include acetylcholine and dopamine. Neurotransmitters in the brain play an important role in regulating and controlling heart rates, sleeping cycle’s moods, and concentration.

The functions and responsibilities of physical body organs and psychological functions are controlled by neurotransmitters. Impulses triggered by nerve cells are relayed to the nervous system through the release of neurotransmitters, which carry the signals to different other cells. Acetylcholine is an excitatory neurotransmitter that plays an important role in the function of the brain and memory (Phillips, (2017). Reduced levels of acetylcholine are associated with psychiatric disorders that affect memory and thinking, as observed in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. On the other hand, high levels of acetylcholine are responsible for abnormal contraction of muscles and results in spasms and seizures. Dopamine plays an important role in coordinated body movements, memory, learning, and behavior. Dopamine is normally released by the brain during pleasure activities (Abboud, Noronha & Diwadkar, 2017). Lastly, neurotransmitters play a significant role in the human psychiatric system.

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that is described by disorganization of speech and behavior, hallucinations, delusions, and other symptoms relating to social dysfunction. The disorder is caused by an amalgamation of the chemistry of the brain, genetic components, and other factors relating to the environment (Abboud, Noronha & Diwadkar, 2017). Mental disorder is prevalent in adolescents and young adults. The environmental and genetic factors play a part in causing Schizophrenia. These factors are also associated with inherited elements. Genetic inheritance plays a significant role in determining the likelihood of occurrence of this mental disorder (Phillips, (2017). Dopamine imbalance and neurotransmitters are believed to trigger the early stages of Schizophrenia.

References

Abboud, R., Noronha, C., & Diwadkar, V. A. (2017). Motor system dysfunction in the schizophrenia diathesis: neural systems to neurotransmitters. European Psychiatry, 44, 125-133.

Armour, C., Műllerová, J., & Elhai, J. D. (2016). A systematic literature review of PTSD’s latent structure in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV to DSM-5. Clinical Psychology Review, 44, 60-74.

Phillips, C. (2017). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, depression, and physical activity: making the neuroplastic connection. Neural plasticity, 2017.

Waugh, M. H., Hopwood, C. J., Krueger, R. F., Morey, L. C., Pincus, A. L., & Wright, A. G. (2017). Psychological assessment with the DSM–5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders: Tradition and innovation. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 48(2), 79.