Question

In the DSM-5, a major change in how culture is viewed within each disorder is that:

A) Culture is considered irrelevant to diagnosis
B) Cultural factors are a separate category
C) Culture is integrated into the diagnostic criteria
D) Cultural considerations are limited to treatment planning

Answer 1

Culture is integrated into the diagnostic criteria, as evidenced by the inclusion of cultural concepts of distress (CCD) in the DSM-5, which considers the unique ways cultures understand and communicate mental suffering.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student asked about a major change in how culture is viewed within each disorder in the DSM-5. The correct answer is, C) Culture is integrated into the diagnostic criteria. The DSM-5 includes cultural concepts of distress (CCD), which refer to the ways cultural groups experience, understand, and communicate suffering and symptoms related to mental disorders. Examples such as culture-bound syndromes reflect uniquely conceptualized manifestations of mental illness in specific cultures. The cultural systems model also reflects the DSM-5's integrated approach, emphasizing the importance of recognizing how different cultures conceptualize and treat mental illness, whether through clinical therapy, pharmaceuticals, or culturally-specific methods. This integration of culture into the diagnostic process is important in ensuring accurate, sensitive, and effective clinical practice.