Glossary / Lexicon

- DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) : DSM is the acronym of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders which is the official manual for diagnosing mental disorders in the United States, that contains a list of specific criteria for each disorder, how long a person's symptoms must be present to qualify for a diagnosis, and requirements that the symptoms interfere with daily functioning in order to be called disorders. Moreover, DSM is a book which contains a comprehensive classification of officially recognized psychiatric disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association that contains standard terms and definitions of psychological disorders for use by mental health professionals to ensure uniformity of diagnosis.