Question

What was a major criticism of how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) classified sexual dysfunctions, which ultimately led to changes within the DSM-5?

1) Diagnoses were mainly related to male dysfunctions.
2) Diagnoses typically focused on global sexual dysfunctions.
3) Diagnoses were too focused on psychological factors.
4) Diagnoses were dependent upon where in the sexual response cycle the symptoms occurred.

Answer 1

The DSM-5 made changes to how sexual dysfunctions were classified, most notably replacing the stigmatizing 'Gender Identity Disorder' with 'Gender Dysphoria' to reduce stigma and focus on the distress caused by gender incongruence.

Step-by-step explanation:

One of the major criticisms of how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) classified sexual dysfunctions was the stigmatizing nature of certain diagnostic categories. This led to significant changes in the DSM-5. Previously, conditions such as Gender Identity Disorder were criticized for pathologizing individuals by labeling them as disordered. As a result, the DSM-5 replaced this with Gender Dysphoria, which is less stigmatizing and focuses on the distress and impairment caused by a marked incongruence between one's experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender. Moreover, this shift reflects a broader understanding that psychological distress from gender incongruence is not due to a disorder within the individual, but rather a conflict between the individual and societal norms.