DSM: Defining Normal

3 credits · Undergraduate

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the "bible" of psychiatric diagnoses. Medically, culturally, socially and politically, it is an influential document that defines what constitutes a disorder to human behavior. From its first edition to its last incarnation (DSM-5), the DSM has exploded in size and clout. With the rise in status, however, have come serious questions about its expanding list of disorders, the scientific basis of some of its diagnostic categories and how some conditions seem to appear and disappear as a function of the moment's sociocultural pressures and sensibilities. The course will cover the history and metamorphoses of the DSM, covering both its laudable achievements and costly mistakes.