<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Diseases are a complete fiction
Review: Although DSM-IV is the bible of psychiatric diagnosis it's validity as a party game should not be overlooked. With a group of people gathered round you can almost certainly categorise any one of them with numerous mental disorders that should technically have them locked away for years. It is not a good idea to include religious people in the game, they always seem to get the best matches to the really good disorders!Psychiatrists will have you believe that some skill is required to use DSM, most laypeople with a brain, however will start to realise that the validity of this book can be somewhat questionable and really is best used as a party game.
Rating: 
Summary: The ONLY Manual for Psychological/Psychiatric Disorders
Review: Anyone who reviews this book and gives it less than a 4 or 5 is obviously uneducated about clinical disorders. This is the bedrock of clinical psychology and psychiatry, and, even if it is flawed in philosophy or content, has NO peer. I recommend this book only for those who understand the scientific method and those interested in pursuing graduate study of psychology or psychiatry.
Rating: 
Summary: DSM IV is useful to mental health professionals
Review: As a clinical psycholgist, professor, and author I have found DSM to be useful. It is not useful to laypersons and is not a self-help manual. It lists over 200 different kinds of problems-in-living, some severe (schizophrenia) and some not severe (bedwetting). These problems- in-living are called "disorders" if they cause significant emotional distress or significant social or vocational impairment. Some of these disorders people accidentally bring on themselves (substance abuse) and some disorders cause severe problems to others (e.g., intermittent explosive disorder or borderline personality disorder). I closely followed the depressive disorders and anxiety disorders in DSM IV when I wrote a self-help book, "SOS Help For Emotions: Managing Anxiety, Anger, And Depression." DSM IV needs to acknowledge and list "anger disorders" (which it does not do) as these problems are causing severe problems and misery in our families and society, as well as in the persons having anger disorders. I have used DSM (in all of its editions)for over 38 years. Both of the prior customers have made some valid points.
Rating:
Summary: A tool for PROFESSIONALS
Review: First of all, for the two people who gave this 1 star, who are you to criticize the mental health profession? Second of all, lobotomies are only performed in the most extreme cases (your stupidity baffles my mind as even surgeons still perform amputations, however only in the most dire of circumstances). And for the critique that states "'diseases' are VOTED into existence by a panel..." I suppose you think the government is made up of criminals since they VOTE on the laws and rules that govern our society? Maybe you people should stop spending your welfare money on alcohol and get a job. And only cowards like you would post "reviews" without leaving any room for feedback (i.e. email address). For the rest of the people, the DSM is a tool for mental health professionals to AID in diagnoses, and is not an end all means to determining mental illnesses.
Rating:
Summary: A tool for PROFESSIONALS
Review: First of all, for the two people who gave this 1 star, who are you to criticize the mental health profession? Second of all, lobotomies are only performed in the most extreme cases (your stupidity baffles my mind as even surgeons still perform amputations, however only in the most dire of circumstances). And for the critique that states "'diseases' are VOTED into existence by a panel..." I suppose you think the government is made up of criminals since they VOTE on the laws and rules that govern our society? Maybe you people should stop spending your welfare money on alcohol and get a job. And only cowards like you would post "reviews" without leaving any room for feedback (i.e. email address). For the rest of the people, the DSM is a tool for mental health professionals to AID in diagnoses, and is not an end all means to determining mental illnesses.
Rating:
Summary: Charlatan Science
Review: Noone claims to understand everything about the human mind anymore than they can conclusively prove a specific origin of life. But the struggle to understand human behavior starts with the study of patterns, and this is what the DSM accomplishes. All of us are a composite - to a greater or lesser degree - of many of the illnesses described. But the key word here is "degree." An illness must fit established criteria for it be be classified as such, and this is where DSM is so helpful. The few reviewers who found infinite flaws in this text are probably the same few who believe that "Bam-Bam" had pet dinosaurs. Oh well, another testament to "The Bell Curve."
Rating:
Summary: Thank You Tuscon & Bowling Green
Review: Thanks to the reviewers from Tuscon & Bowling Green who point out that this is only a tool that attempts to codify the many mental states we collectivly term mental disorders. As a clinician I find it useful as a quick refererence but it doesn't replace good case studies, in depth works and clinical experience.
Rating:
Summary: Diseases are a complete fiction
Review: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)--the psychiatrists' reference on what diseases are out there and what drugs are used to treat them -- is complete fiction. Psychiatric "diseases" are VOTED into existence by a panel of about 1000 members of the "Mental Health Industry", and when these "diseases" win the vote and are included in the next edition of the DSM, they become by that fact "real". I would suggest that any person about to have a diagnosis rendered upon them through the use of DSM IV and who is concerned about their rights to disagree should contact attorney Skip Simpson of Dallas, Texas.
Rating:
Summary: A Psych student's best friend...
Review: This manual was excellent for helping the Behavioral Scientist, and Psych student. I would recommend that every Social Science student get one, to help them through the core courses of their quest to get a degree. I also recommend the "companion" to the DSM. That's very helpful too.
<< 1 >>
| 
