Dr. Allen Frances has been one of the most vocal critics of the DSM-5 process, posting dozens of articles about the problems with pharmaceutical money supporting many of the Manual's authors and researchers, the problems with the move to a spectrum model of diagnosis, and the really serious issues with validity and reliability of the new criteria.

Dr. Frances is the author of Saving Normal: An Insider's Revolt Against Out-of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, and the Medicalization of Ordinary Life, and he visited Diane Rehm to talk about his book, the DSM-5, and the dominance of Big Pharma in the mental health field. Also on the show is Dr. David Kupfer, chair of the DSM-5 Task Force.

Dr. Allen Frances: "Saving Normal: An Insider's Revolt Against Out-Of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, And The Medicalization Of Ordinary Life"

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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5)

There are no laboratory tests for psychiatry, no bright lines to say who is sick and who is well. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM, has come to be regarded as the bible of psychiatric diagnosis. First published in 1952 and revised several times since then, it improved the reliability of subjective diagnoses. But Dr. Allen Frances says it's also had harmful unintended consequences. He was once dubbed "the most powerful psychiatrist in America" by The New York Times. Now he says the DSM has contributed to psychiatric fads, diagnostic inflation and over-medication. He believes the latest version threatens to turn everyday living into psychiatric disease. He joins Diane to discuss his new book, "Saving Normal," and how to rein in psychiatry and drug companies.

Guests

Dr. Allen Frances, professor emeritus and former chair of psychiatry and behavioral science department at Duke University; chair of the DSM-4 Task Force; and leadership group member on the DSM-3 and DSM-3-revised.

Dr. David Kupfer, chair of the DSM-5 Task Force and psychology professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Related Links
American Psychiatric Association - DSM-5

Related Items

Saving Normal: An Insider's Revolt Against Out-of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, and the Medicalization of Ordinary Life

Read An Excerpt

Excerpt from the book "Saving Normal: An Insider's Revolt Against Out-of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, and the Medicalization of Ordinary Life" by Allen Frances. Published by William Morrow. Copyright © 2013 by Allen Frances. Reprinted with permission.

Excerpt from the book; Saving Normal: An Insider's Revolt Against Out-of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis...