The DSM-V: A Diagnostic Analysis

The DSM-V is has generally been applauded since its release for its increased emphasis on culture and gender in evaluating and diagnosing mental disorders, seen in such things as the nine items (sets of symptoms that are culturally related and bound) in the Glossary of Cultural Concepts of Distress at the back of the book, and, for most diagnoses, including sets of culture and gender related diagnostic problems. It has also been praised for its intent to revise more frequently, with the possibilities of a DSM-5.1, 5.2, and so on, rather than the fourteen years of its own revision process, a point which is important in that as society and the world changes, our view, when studying abnormal psychology, of what normal functionally is, changes …show more content…
Gender dysphoria is a new diagnostic category, replacing the DSM-IV’s gender identity disorder, and defined as there being a discrepancy between individuals’ gender identity and biological sex. Diagnostic criteria include a desire to be the other or an alternative gender different from the assigned gender, a desire to be rid of one’s primary and/or secondary sex characteristics, a desire for the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the other or an alternative gender, a desire to be treated as the other or an alternative gender, and the conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions of the other or an alternative gender. These criteria are a bit more spelled out when diagnosing children, and also more binary based. The DSM-V acknowledges that there is a wide variation of gender incongruent conditions, that gender dysphoria often goes beyond institutionalized binary genders and sexes, and that the expression of symptoms is typically based on what is perceived as proper behavior for the assigned or desired sex or …show more content…
If they were diagnosed with cancer and experience depressive symptoms, it’s not called “cancer et ego morior (Latin-I am dying of cancer)” depression. If they were bullied, it’s not called “vapulabit vexati schola (Latin-beaten and harassed at school)” depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Symptoms after these situations are either considered completely rational and reasonable, or, if they become severe enough, their own disorder, and the cause simply seen as a stressor. In gender dysphoria, the trigger, the discrepancy between gender identity and biological sex, is often less of a problem than how society reacts to the perceived problem, which, in turn, is what often causes anxious and depressive symptoms, as well as trouble relating to