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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 3 page paper provides an article summary for this piece written about the rise in importance of the DSM. The life and work of Robert Spitzer is highlighted. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: RT13_SA514DSM.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
made DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) famous. For those who have not heard of it, the DSM is the diagnostic tool used by the psychiatric community. It
lists particular symptoms for certain disorders and a psychiatrist or psychologist bases a diagnosis on the information to come from the book. In fact, the author points out that DSM
has invaded the popular culture. It is also something that is used and abused. In fact, Spitzer himself, according to this article, claims that it is perhaps overused. In examining
the issue, one has to wonder why the profession uses the diagnostic tool as a bible and to the exclusion of other methods. How can this be that this one
manual has gotten so popular? The article does provide a sense of history in terms of how the DSM was born. It does not however adequately explain the reason for
the phenomenon, except for the fact that the field was rather muddled and confused. When DSM came along, it was very useful and powerful. The work not only focuses on
the manual, but also on the man who promoted its use. Of course, Spitzer really did not invent the manual, but one could say that he reinvented it. DSM existed,
but it was Spitzer who implemented important changes. For example, it is noted that he knew a gay activist who objected to homosexuality as a disorder and Spitzer was instrumental
in its removal. Interestingly, Spitzer would only get involved with DSM by chance. He happened to be having lunch with someone on the DSM-II committee and was invited to attend.
The rest, as they say, is history. A great deal of biographical information is relayed. It appears that Robert Spitzer showed an interest in mathematics and psychology at an early
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