Final answer:
To increase diagnostic reliability, the dsm-5 bases psychological diagnoses on concrete descriptions of behavior and emotions to standardize mental health disorder criteria, including in diagnoses like drug use disorders. The correct answer is option: A. concrete descriptions of behavior and emotions.
Step-by-step explanation:
To increase diagnostic reliability, the DSM-5 bases psychological diagnoses on concrete descriptions of behavior and emotions. This approach aims to standardize and categorize mental health disorders based on specific symptoms and criteria, to improve consistency across diagnoses. Rather than relying solely on measures such as blood tests, brain scans, or the doctor's personal judgment, the DSM-5 utilizes a comprehensive listing of criteria for each disorder, allowing clinicians to match an individual's symptoms with established patterns.
When diagnosing disorders such as drug use disorders, clinicians look for a compulsive pattern of drug use associated with physical and psychological dependence, where individuals continue to use the substance despite facing adverse consequences. Treatments for various conditions listed in the DSM-5 can include blood pressure medication, classes of antipsychotics, psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, deep-brain stimulation, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.