Keywords
Citation
Andrew William McCulloch (2015), "Understanding Mental Disorders: Your Guide to DSM-5", Journal of Public Mental Health, Vol. 14 No. 3, pp. 174-174. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-06-2015-0029
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
This is an odd book, and not in a good way. One cannot help feeling sorry for the authors as many of the problems with the book flow from the brief. The concept begs many questions. Why would a member of the general public want a guide to DSM-5? Who needs a book that deals with depression, “gender dysphoria” and intellectual disabilities as if they were in some way comparable or indeed are categorical “diagnoses”? How will they know which bit of the book to look at? Is the publication of such a book even responsible or intellectually defensible?
What is even more extraordinary is that the book does not even attempt to explain what DSM-5 is, why it makes sense to classify “mental disorders” in this way, or what the benefits might be. Such benefits as are mentioned only make sense in relation to common mental disorders (e.g. quick treatment) and will deeply confuse and trouble those interested in understanding life-long conditions. The other main argument advanced is based on the overused argument of Linnaeus – i.e. science requires classification. So does pseudo-science. Instead the book is organised as a series of “a psychiatrist speaks” chapters on each alleged subset of disorders as they appear in DSM-5 coupled with a series of non-representative case studies.
A couple of quotations capture a flavour of this book, which I think would reinforce readers of this journal’s worst fears about such an enterprise:
“Personality disorders affect 10-15% of people” (p. 262).
“Most of today’s antidepressants work well with few side effects” (p. 302).
R.D. Laing once observed that few books are excusable. This one is certainly not one of the few. It will provide rich material for conspiracy theorists and for those seeking to debunk diagnosis. And sadly if it falls into the hands of the general public it could do significant damage to their understanding of mental illness and mental health.