Of all the critics of DSM-5, few have been as vocal as Gary Greenberg, author of The Book of Woe: DSM and the Unmaking of Psychiatry.
When examining the various changes made in this new edition, Gary finds the most controversial one to be the removal of the bereavement exclusion from the major depression diagnosis; a decision that could be seen as an attempt to pathologize periods of grief and mourning.
Watch the clip below to get some background on this controversial edit and learn why the bereavement exclusion was initially created in DSM-III.
Rich Simon
Richard Simon, PhD, founded Psychotherapy Networker and served as the editor for more than 40 years. He received every major magazine industry honor, including the National Magazine Award. Rich passed away November 2020, and we honor his memory and contributions to the field every day.
Gary Greenberg
Gary Greenberg, PhD, is a practicing psychotherapist, the author of four books, including The Book of Woe, a contributing writer for Mother Jones, and a contributing editor for Harper’s.
