I have a book Making the DSM 5, that has been on my desk forever. This is its own summary:
In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association published the 5th edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Often referred to as the “bible” of psychiatry, the manual only classifies mental disorders and does not explain them or guide their treatment. While science should be the basis of any diagnostic system, to date, there is no knowledge on whether most conditions listed in the manual are true diseases. Moreover, in DSM-5 the overall definition of mental disorder is weak, failing to distinguish psychopathology from normality. In spite of all the progress that has been made in neuroscience over the last few decades, the psychiatric community is no closer to understanding the etiology and pathogenesis of mental disorders than it was fifty years ago.
In Making the DSM-5, prominent experts delve into the debate about psychiatric nosology and examine the conceptual and pragmatic issues underlying the new manual. While retracing the historic controversy over DSM, considering the political context and economic impact of the manual, and focusing on what was revised or left unchanged in the new edition, this timely volume addresses the main concerns of the future of psychiatry and questions whether the DSM legacy can truly improve the specialty and advance its goals.
This is plain language, and I am sure many mental health professionals agree with it - if reluctantly. At least in the developed world - in the rest of the world, where I live now - mental health is undeveloped also.
All we can say is that we are prone to craziness - and we should be aware of this. But, for the most part - are not. We live in a world full of insanities of many kinds - and people who are determined to not notice this.
Our biggest problem, is not noticing that we have this big problem.
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