First published in 1952 by the American Psychiatric Association, this manual is a compilation of mental disorders, their symptoms and prescribed treatment.
The current version of this manual, commonly referred to as the DSM-5-TR, was published in 2013 as an update to the DSM-5.
Some critics and clinicians, including some high profile members of the American Psychiatric Association, said the list of diagnoses has needlessly gotten longer and longer, classifying what used to be considered normal quirks of human behavior as maladies.
For its part, the association has argued its case for adding to that roster of disorders. Among other criteria, the manual’s co-editors said their decisions have been based on the review of research and documented validity of the results of treatment; provided evidence to explain the reasons for their updates; duly categorized the degree of change as moderate, major and so forth; and assessed the potential for harming individuals or groups whom the changes might effect.