I suppose one could question a subjects perceptions. But I'm not sure how it differs from me reaching a judgement about the cliched sweaty Chinese chef who is running towards me wielding a cleaver, just because I criticised his cooking.x9200 wrote:I think it is not entirely correct.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sid ... port-dsm-5
"DSM diagnoses are based on a consensus about clusters of clinical symptoms, not any objective laboratory measure."
That's the whole problem. Also these symptoms are also often judged subjectively and the symptoms are not unique to a specific disorder.
If the case is obvious then there is no doubt of course but then again typically you don't need a systematic test to make a conclusion. If it is less obvious DSM may not help at all.
I found DSM-IV immediately useful, and later and more broadly enlightening. I recall at the time thinking it is something all young adults should be made aware of, in something like a 'General Studies' class at school. Rather than the PD's being something '''no one really talks about as it's a bit weird''' that comes and slams you out of the blue in later life...
p.s. I'll be as bold as to say that I am confident that everyone that reads this topic knows or has known someone who has a diagnosable PD; however, they might not have the context to understand this persons behaviour. For me, when I first read DSM-IV, it was like a shovel-in-the-face epiphany... nothing less.
