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What is DSM-5 criteria?

User GrahamMc
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Final answer:

The DSM-5 criteria are diagnostic guidelines used by healthcare professionals to identify and classify mental disorders. It emphasizes patterns of substance use and the consequences of such behaviors. The DSM-5 also includes significant changes and has faced criticism for potentially pathologizing normal behaviors.

Step-by-step explanation:

The DSM-5 criteria refer to the guidelines used for diagnosing mental disorders, as outlined in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This manual is widely utilized by clinicians and psychiatrists to diagnose psychological disorders. Regarding drug use disorders, the DSM-5 criteria focus on patterns of compulsion, increase in substance use, and continued use despite harmful consequences, which can lead to physical and psychological dependence.

There has been some criticism regarding the DSM-5, particularly concerning the way it potentially labels normal human behaviors as mental disorders. It is crucial for clinicians to use the DSM-5 judiciously and to be aware of its potential limitations in categorizing human behavior. The DSM-5 also includes changes such as the merging of Asperger's syndrome with autism spectrum disorders and the broadening of the dyslexia category.