Description

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What is the DSM?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a formal classification of mental health disorders, contains information on symptoms, diagnostic criteria, cultural and gender-related characteristics, and other important diagnostic details. The DSM does not contain any treatment recommendations.
To put it another way, mental health professionals can use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) as a reference guide and diagnostic tool.
The DSM also includes "specifiers." These are additions to formal diagnoses that specify one or more particular characteristics, such as the onset or degree of the condition. A diagnosis may include one or more specifiers to improve its precision.
Because mental health conditions do not always manifest in the same way, a DSM specifier is in a better position to describe specific scenarios.