Final answer:
The DSM-5 incorporates a continuum perspective on mental disorders and integrates multiple theoretical models, acknowledging behavioral, physiological, and social factors, while using a broader set of criteria, including personal experiences, for diagnoses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), known as the DSM-5, is a critical resource in the mental health field. The DSM-5 does indeed incorporate a continuum perspective on disorders, acknowledging the varying degrees of severity that mental health issues can encompass. Rather than being based on a singular theoretical perspective, the DSM-5 integrates multiple theoretical models to provide a comprehensive diagnostic tool. It considers a range of factors, including behavioral, physiological, and environmental influences on mental health. Criticisms do exist, such as the accusation that it fails to sufficiently account for social factors, however, this is an area of ongoing discussion and evolution in the field of psychology. Personal experiences and feelings are part of a broader set of criteria used for diagnosis, which also includes behavioral patterns and reported symptoms.