Hoe de DSM de psychiatrie verder kan helpen

The prospect of ‘disease’ in psychiatry has been debated for centuries. In the 21st century, this discussion often focusses on the usefulness of DSM classifications, the diagnostic manual of psychiatry. This criticism on the DSM is exemplary for our struggle to understand, classify and treat psychiatric problems. However, we tend to forget that the DSM system has provided a wealth of knowledge and structure to psychiatric care and science. Moreover, there is no elaborated alternative and an abolishment of the DSM will lead to confusion and polarisation. We should not throw the baby out with the bathwater. In this perspective, we argue how we can build on decades of experience with the DSM and how historical weighting and accurate use of the DSM can offer fertile grounds for refinement and precision of diagnostics in psychiatry.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.