The guidebook doctors use to diagnose behavioral health problems is being revised to eliminate the term "dependence" and replace it with "addictions and related disorders." The change is one of many proposed in the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). According to the APA, the revision is intended to differentiate between normal withdrawal from a prescribed medication, and harmful behavior associated with non-prescribed substances.
You can read the full article from Join Together here. And here are some thoughts from the Discovering Alcoholic, who is skeptical the changes will benefit people seeking treatment.
What do you think about this proposed change in language? You can comment to the APA through April 20 through their Web site.
Brandywine Counseling & Community Services saves lives. We help people recover from addiction and mental illness, and reduce their HIV risk. Each life saved touches other lives, families, and communities in the Delaware region.
No comments:
Post a Comment