Human Growth and Development

E. Diagnosing Mental Disorders Diagnosing mental disorders relies on a standardized manual called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) . This manua helps by providing:: ●​ Criteria: Specific guidelines outlining the symptoms, how long they last , and how severe it must be for a diagnosis. ●​ Descriptions: Detailed explanations of each disorder, including how it typically develops and its course. ●​ Symptom Checklists: Standardized lists to help assess symptoms and their severity. Understanding the Evolving Nature of the DSM: The DSM is regularly updated to keep up with new mental health research. The DSM-5-TR, published in 2022, includes several changes: ●​ Reduced Bias: Revisions were made to make diagnosis more accurate across cultures, ethnicities, and genders. This improves the accuracy of diagnoses for all populations. ●​ Improved Accuracy: Improved criteria for clearer and more precise diagnoses. This leads to a better identification of mental health conditions. ●​ New Diagnoses: The DSM-5-TR introduced new diagnoses, such as prolonged grief disorder, to recognize issues that were not fully addressed before.

Focus on Exam-Relevant Disorders While the DSM-5-TR covers a broad range of mental disorders, this course will focus on a few. Some disorders you may find are not included because this section focuses on the most relevant information for your exam. This revision emphasizes the role of the DSM-5-TR in diagnosing mental health conditions in children and adolescents. F. Internalizing Disorders Internalizing disorders are mental health conditions that cause inward-directed emotional distress, such as anxiety and depression. These disorders can appear at different ages and there are many possible contributing factors.

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