Question

Imagine you are a psychiatrist in the late 1970s. You have heard about the upcoming DSM-III and seen drafts of the final copy. In at least 200 words discuss what you think are the benefits and/or problems with the way that this new manual approaches psychiatric disorders. You can discuss the upcoming DSM-III as a proponent of either the psychoanalytic or the descriptive psychology schools of psychiatry.

Answer 1

DSM -3
Benefits- The DSM-III approach is superior to previous classification systems in terms of observability (emphasis on explicit behavioral symptoms), reliability (in terms of agreement among clinicians), validity (in terms of agreement with other criteria), feasibility (ease of administration), coverage (covering all disorders of clinical significance in the mental health system), and age sensitivity (from infancy to old age). It also acknowledges the continuous need to increase further the observability, reliability, validity, feasibility, coverage, and age sensitivity of the system, as well as to modify the specific diagnostic categories in light of empirical advances in mental health research. Its goal was to improve the validity and standardization of psychiatric diagnosis it was the first version to introduce such elements as the multi access system and explicit Diagnostic criteria it also removed much of the earlier versions bias towards psychodynamic thought in favour of a more descriptive and categorial approach

Problems -Confusing diagnostic criteria and inconsistencies led the APA to develop a revision. Some of these changes were based on changing societal norms. For example, in the DSM-III, homosexuality was diagnosed as ego-dystonic homosexuality.
DSM 3 ignore us other cultures and other historical epochs and ignore any other aspect of learning that does not come under the heading of American practical Technology