It's with pronounced ambivalence (and some outright outrage) that most have greeted the arrival of DSM-5 (also known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition). But however you feel about it, if you're preparing for the social work licensing exam after July 1st, 2015, that's the diagnostic book you're stuck with (at least until DSM-6, or whatever they call it, comes out). What's the mean to you? For most exam questions, not a lot. But for the diagnostic ones, lots and lots. It means that if a question asks about "the MOST LIKELY diagnosis" or anything else along those lines, you'll have to censor your internal DSM-IV-TR knowledge and substitute the new manual's contents. For most diagnoses, this doesn't mean a thing. There's lots of stuff that's more-or-less untouched or just minorly tweaked (eg Personality Disorders). There are some big changes--detailed here at PsychCentral--that you should keep your eyes open for. They include the addition of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, and others. The five axes are gone. The "NOS" specifier has bitten the dust. ADHD and PTSD criteria have changed. It's all details. But details--at least some of them--are exactly what you need at hand to get through those questions on the exam. If you're in the mood for a dry video to walk you through the changes, YouTube has several. Here's one from DeKalb: Not feeling like sitting through a lecture? Here's another good place to go for starter questions about the changes. Still have questions? The web awaits. Good luck getting DSM-5 learned and good luck on the exam!
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December 2019
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