The Washington Post – By: Paula J. Caplan – Psychiatry’s bible, the DSM, is doing more harm than good– Published: April, 27th, 2012- According to the psychiatrists’ bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM), which defines the criteria for doling out psychiatric labels, a patient can fall into a bipolar category after having just one “manic” episode lasting a week or less. Given what this patient was dealing with, it is not surprising that she was talking quickly, had racing thoughts, was easily distracted and was intensely focused on certain goals (i.e. caring for her family) — thus meeting the requisite four of the eight criteria for a bipolar diagnosis.
