Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV | 
 enlarge | Author: American Psychiatric Association
Publisher: American Psychiatric Association
Category: Book
List Price: $49.95
Buy Used: $12.00
You Save: $37.95 (76%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 14441
Media: Paperback
Edition: 4th
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 886
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.3
Dimensions (in): 9.9 x 6.8 x 1.9
ISBN: 0890420629
Dewey Decimal Number: 616.89075
EAN: 9780890420621
ASIN: 0890420629
Publication Date: January 15, 1994
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Pages bright, not faded. No highlighting, but cover has creases, stains.
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Product Description
...the ultimate mental health reference...presents diagnostic criteria for such problems as dissociative, mood, somatoform, or sleep disorders, schizophrenia, dementia, and delirium.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
DSM IV August 18, 2007
I consider this an excellent reference manual.
It is not a book that you can casually read as it is technical, but very informative.
My therapist said that some people that read the book apply the illness to their personal feelings. That can be dangerous as only a trained psychiatrist can truly diagnose a person's mental condition.
 Some important clarifications June 22, 2006
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
First of all, don't get discouraged by the negative reviews because some of them (maybe most of them!) are clearly scientologist reviews. Scientologists believe that psychiatrists are behind the rise of Hitler, not to mention other interesting stuff such as, that Xenu, the galatic overlord, was helped by psychiatrists; this is actualy true, so...
Anyway, about the DSM-IV , I think it can be an excelent manual IF used properly. Classification is a somewhat inerently arbitrary activity and that should be understood. This classification should be understood as a frame of reference, not as a categoric and precise classification of diseases, since that is impossible given the huge complexity and/or size and nature of the task. Furthermore, psychology/psychiatry is a field still with much research to do so the manual also suffers from this lack of research.
Therefore, as long as DSM-IV is aproached with this in mind, it can be an excelent book because it puts mental health professionals speaking the same language. It's primary value is as a frame of reference for the mental health professionals and as such it is excelent.
Whatever way the insurance companies take advantage of this, it's not the fault of the DSM-IV. Whatever doctor prescribes medication without being necessary, it's his fault, not DSM's. Conspiracy theorists forget that there are good people in the world...
For Diagnostic/Clinician Use April 9, 2006
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
I think people often misunderstand or misinterpret the purpose of this publication.
In my opinion, this isn't a tool for deciding who's crazy, who's hyperactive or anything else. The true purpose of this book is to make sure that a proper diagnosis is made on a person who either willingly or unwillingly requests mental help from a psychiatrist. It's obnoxious to hear about how psychiatry/psychology is a sham, and an abuse of power... If you don't want to read or use the DSM, DON'T! Go with homeopathics, dianetics or whatever other methods you choose. You can argue with the DSM as much as you'd like, but you're arguing against the best scientists and clinicians in America.
Be sure to focus on the "real" details, not creed or misguided belief.
The uses of this manual... January 29, 2006
9 out of 12 found this review helpful
The DSM-IV (and DSM-IV-TR) is the primary manual used by clinicians to diagnose mental disorders. The cons are that 1) the manual categorizes mental disorders when it is entirely possible (perhaps even probable) that mental disorders lie on a continuum shared by normal behaviors, 2) political issues can and do influence which and how mental disorders are included in the manual, and 3) that interrater reliability (the degree of agreement among diagnoses when using the manual) is somewhere around 70% (clearly, not perfect). The pros are that 1) even if one thought abnormal behavior was on the same continuum of normal behavior, no one else has yet suggested a better way of assessing and diagnosing mental disorders, 2) the manual increases the ability to communicate about these disorders among clinicians and patients (which can be beneficial when considering treatment), and 3) it comprises a nice summary of what we know about mental disorders in a somewhat reasonably organized fashion.
So far, the benefits outweigh the problems (and frankly, we really don't have a better alternative). Clinicians may use it to diagnose, students may use it get a summary of what we know about particular mental disorders (but should refrain from diagnosing themselves or others as the criterias listed still need clinical expertise in judging whether or not the criteria applies to any one individual and/or behavior).
Review the book, don't make political comments December 29, 2005
9 out of 13 found this review helpful
Please stick to reviews of the book, and stop venting and expressing anger by giving the book bad reviews, when you should be taking these issues elsewhere.
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