clinical diagnosis categorical vs dimensional should things be in categories or should they be on a spectrum classical or pure categorical approach black white you either have disorder or you don t dimensional approach spectrum continuum approach prototypical approach combines categorical dimensional DSM however DSM is more categorical than dimensional ex categorical says you have depression and dimensional tells you how severe it is classification systems ICD Internat l Classification of Diseases published by the WHO DSM Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM 5 pub in May 2013 pros and cons of using a diagnostic system like the DSM helps us identify ppl s disorders Americocentrized ppl can t get insurance if they aren t diagnosed labeling puts ppl into categories we don t see ppl s unique experiences important factors in making a diagnosis personal distress there are a few exceptions like manic ppl ppl w personality disorders impairment of functioning professionally w relationships personal etc DSM 5 disorder groups anxiety disorders obsessive compulsive related disorders trauma stressor related disorders these 3 categories used to be combined bipolar related disorders depressive disorders these 2 categories used to be combined substance related addictive disorders somatic symptom related disorders relates to body what you re feeling physically schizophrenia spectrum other psychotic disorders dissociative disorders feeding eating disorders disruptive impulse control conduct disorders sexual dysfunctions gender dysphoria paraphillic disorders the above 3 used to be combined personality disorders neurodevelopmental disorders DSM IV to 5 changes in disorder groups separating previously lumped together groups new diagnosis revised language movement across groups moving disorders from one group to another general issues in current classification inter rater reliability of diagnosis diff raters might give diff diagnoses specific symptoms needed to meet criteria the of systems required to meet a disorder can seem subjective bias why are so many more women diagnosed w borderline personality disorder than men is it the way we ve designed the DSM bias for women to get this diagnosis comorbidity ppl being diagnosed w multiple disorders DSM and homosexuality DSM I homosexuality mental disorder protests about homosexuality not a disorder Dr H wore a mask and said homosexuality is not a disorder DSM II 1974 homosexuality removed replaced w sexual orientation disturbance DSM III 1980 ego dystonic homosexuality DSM III R 1986 sexual disorder NOS Hooker studies 1957 identified gay straight participants participants were matched according to other factors gave them Rorschach 2 3 of each group were well adjusted asked other psychologists to look at results say which ppl are gay and they couldn t weren t able to separate them shows that there is not a lot of research to show that gays are not well adjusted raters were blind in study Spitzer chairman of task force to develop DSM III apologizes in 2012 for having supported gay cure