Question

To enhance diagnostic specificity, DSM-5 replaced the previous "not otherwise specified" (NOS) designation with two options for clinical use: Other Specified [disorder] and Unspecified [disorder]. Which of the following statements about use of the Unspecified designation is true?

a. The Unspecified designation is used when the clinician chooses not to specify the reason that criteria for a specific disorder were not met.
b. The Unspecified designation is used when there is no recognized Other Specified disorder (e.g. recurrent brief depressions, sexual aversion).
c. The Unspecified designation is used when the individual has fewer than three symptoms of any of the recognized disorders within the diagnostic class.
d. The Unspecified designation is used when the individual presents with symptomatology
of disorders in two or more diagnostic classes.
e. The Unspecified designation is used when the clinician believes the condition is of a
temporary nature.

Answer 1

The statement that is true about unspecified designation is that the unspecified designation is used when the clinician chooses not to specify the reason that criteria for a specific disorder were not met.

Explanation:

• It is dependent on the conscience of the clinician whether or not to disclose and diagnosis before a solid evidence of the persistence of a specific disorder is obtained.
• The clinician is not bound to make a disclosure in case of an unspecified designation but he can also choose to give out some primary information.