Archive

In the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the diagnosis of intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) is revised from the DSM-IV diagnosis of mental retardation. The significant changes address what the disorder is called, its impact on a person’s functioning, and criteria improvements to encourage more comprehensive patient assessment. The revised disorder also reflects the manual’s move away from a multiracial approach to evaluating conditions. Using DSM-IV, mental retardation was on Axis II to ensure that clinicians identified associated impairments alongside other mental disorders. With DSM-5, all mental disorders will be considered on a single axis and given equal weight.