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Overview
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) to ensure standardization in diagnosing disorders. It includes criteria used by all mental health professionals on all mental disorders. Revisions have been made since the DSM's first release in 1952 - mental disorders are added and removed, and changes in classification are also made. Pathological gambling was first recognized as a diagnosis in the third version of the DSM. The newest version of the DSM-5 (released on May 18, 2013) includes the classification of "Disordered Gambling" under the Addictive Disorders classification.
Key Points
The key advantage of the DSM is its ability to standardize diagnoses. By using specific categories and criteria, the DSM provides consistency across the field, which is also helpful for treatment purposes. However, some academics have argued that the DSM is based on a subjective system of categorization. Individuals must be able to report the symptoms they experience, which can be difficult to do. The DSM has also been criticized for cultural bias, not taking into account that differences in diagnoses exist between countries and cultural groups.
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References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Association Publishing.
Petry, N. M., Blanco, C., Auriacombe, M., Borges, G., Bucholz, K., Crowley, T. J. & O'Brien, C. (2014). An overview of and rationale for changes proposed for pathological gambling in DSM-5. Journal of Gambling Studies, 30(2), 493-502.