One of the most note-worthy changes in the DSM-5 is the abundance of new diagnoses that are included in this new edition. Many DSM-5 critics worry that this is an indication of the reckless power that Big Pharma has over the psychotherapy industry; more diagnoses means more opportunities to choose medication over talk therapy, which is the road more and more practitioners are pressured into taking in order to be reimbursed.
These criticisms have become so common that they may seem like fear mongering. But it’s hard to dismiss the potential problems with the DSM-5 when one of its foremost critics, Allen Frances, served as Chair of the DSM-IV Task Force.
In this video clip, Allen talks about the diagnosis selection process he used in DSM-IV, and how limiting the addition of new diagnoses managed to both maintain the integrity of psychotherapy and leave the pharmaceutical companies unharmed.
Allen Frances, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus at Duke University and former Chair of its Department of Psychiatry. He was Chair of the DSM-IV Task Force and is the author of Saving Normal and Essentials of Psychiatric Diagnosis.
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.
