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While the APA is currently considering a proposal to change the classification of “gender identity disorder” to “gender incongruence” in the next edition of the manual—which will be published in May 2013—most insurance policies still classify being transgender as a disorder...
...substance-related disorders" has chipped away at the authority of the DSM. The new DSM would rationalize the system. There are no plans to change the diagnostic criteria of "caffeine intoxication" (essentially, drinking so much coffee or Red Bull that you go nuts, at least temporarily), but the APA is considering whether "non-substance addictions" like compulsive gambling, shopping and eating are related to traditional substance abuse - and, if so, how. Also, it has proposed re-titling the category of substance-related disorders to "Addiction and Related Disorders." No decisions have been made, but this research process is promising...
Still, the launch of dsm5.org - where suggested changes to the DSM were posted Feb. 10 for public comment - is a major step. Here are five ways the APA is proposing to address major criticisms of older versions of the book...
...Contain the definition of a mental illness within sensible borders. A major problem with earlier versions was mission creep: In 1980, the APA published DSM-III, which radically expanded what clinicians could define as disordered. One example: depression. The pre-1980 definition had described "depressive neurosis" as "an excessive reaction of depression due to an internal conflict or to an identifiable event such as the loss of a love object." The much longer 1980 definition (which carried on into DSM-IV and DSM-IV-TR, with slight modifications) omitted the requirement that symptoms be "excessive" in proportion to cause...
Overall, the DSM-5 is shaping up to be a much better reference than its predecessor. There will be months of negotiations - anyone can register at dsm5.org to comment, and consumer groups, day-to-day therapists, research psychologists and many others will have a say. But give the APA one thing: it seems to acknowledge, finally, that it is not the sole arbiter of what makes a person crazy...