Posted by gardenergirl on July 31, 2004, at 14:51:52
In reply to » (((gardenergirl))), did you notice.....?, posted by 64bowtie on July 31, 2004, at 4:08:27
Rod,
I think that the Cautionary Statement is really just a legal disclaimer. Because the DSM is based on consensus research and provides categorical labels for phenomena that I believe exist more on a continuum, the statement is there to caution against simplistic diagnostic labelling. Evaluating symptoms needs to take place within individual and cultural context. Otherwise, we probably could diagnose several disorders in ourselves! So someone untrained in clinical assessment could grab a DSM, pick out a label that seems to fit based on a concrete interpretation of the criteria, and perhaps use that label against someone. Or use it inappropriately.What is ironic is that DSM dx's are used for third party payment. Everyone must have a "label" in order to get paid. (sigh)
gg
poster:gardenergirl
thread:371935
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040728/msgs/372674.html