True mental disorders are seriously problematic in the lives of the people who suffer them, but the 2003 Time article, “How We Get Labeled,” by John Cloud, discusses the difficult task at hand for mental health professionals in diagnosis. Before a mental health professional can treat a patient, the problem must first be diagnosed using specific symptoms listed in the DSM- IV. Though professionals use this book, and rely on it for accuracy and effective diagnosis, it is commonly understood that the book is flawed. Cloud expresses this understanding through quotes from several critics, as well as through pointing out the rocky DSM history.
Cloud points out that the field of psychology is not the same as other medical sciences, because it's diagnosis process is not based on things such as X-rays or MRI's; such methods are concrete in nature, displaying clear and precise diagnosis in most instances. But in psychology, patients can only describe their symptoms subjectively. Cloud quotes some of the vague symptoms recorded in the DMV, such as “fatigue, low self-esteem, and hopelessness,” and he points out that in the case of dysthymic disorder, two of these symptoms coupled with friends' references, is enough to qualify you as a strong candidate for the disorder. Often perfectly normal individuals experience these so-called symptoms. An interesting history of events shows that the DSM has been subject to drastic changes at the hand of political and social movements. Homosexuality, for example, once considered a legitimate mental disorder according to the DSM, is no longer listed in the book as a result of gay activism against it. Cloud says that critics propose change in the DSM content. A striking quote taken from Dr. Paul McHugh accuses the DSM board of being biased, and makes the argument that a list of symptoms should not be enough basis for any scientific field (Page 153, Article 32).
Many other critics want to hold psychology to a higher standard as well: and understandably so, because as it is diagnosis is standing on shaky ground. Researchers, Cloud explains, must first discover the brain mechanisms that make a brain abnormal, and then the DSM will be able to include whatever scientific evidence results. He says until then, “the DSM will always include more hypotheses than answers (Page 154, Article 32).”
