Proposed DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria Research Articles

A randomized controlled trial of a manual-only treatment for reduction and cessation of problematic caffeine use

BackgroundCaffeine Use Disorder was added to DSM-5 as a diagnosis for further research, but few studies have been conducted to identify effective treatments. This randomized, controlled clinical trial examined the efficacy of a manual-only treatment program for caffeine cessation and reduction among individuals seeking treatment for problematic caffeine use. MethodsIndividuals meeting at least two proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Caffeine Use Disorder were randomly assigned to receive either immediate treatment or treatment delayed by 7 weeks. The treatment consisted of a manual containing information about caffeine and instructions for gradually reducing caffeine consumption over a period of 6 weeks, with no counseling or additional support. Caffeine consumption and caffeine-related distress were assessed before treatment, 7 weeks after receiving the treatment manual (end-of-treatment), and 20 weeks post-treatment. ResultsThe manual-only treatment resulted in significant reductions in participants’ self-reported caffeine consumption and caffeine-related distress at end-of-treatment that were sustained at 20-weeks post-treatment. Salivary caffeine levels and community observers corroborated the self-reported reductions in caffeine consumption. Comparisons between the immediate and delayed treatment groups suggest the reductions in caffeine consumption were attributable to the manualized treatment rather than spontaneous with the passage of time. ConclusionsThe present study provides evidence that a gradual caffeine reduction and cessation program may be successfully implemented using a manual-only approach. This time- and cost-effective intervention may be easily adopted by practitioners with limited time or experience with behavioral interventions who want to encourage their patients to reduce caffeine consumption.

Psychosocial correlates of internet gaming disorder: Psychopathology, life satisfaction, and impulsivity

“Internet Gaming Disorder” (IGD) was included as a “Condition for Further Study” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Frequent gamers have previously been shown to exhibit core symptoms of addiction, along with significant impairments in psychosocial functioning. However, there remains a lack of consensus regarding the conceptualization and assessment of video game addiction. We examined the utility of nine questions (Cronbach's α = 0.64), based directly on proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for IGD, in capturing problems related to excess use of online video games. Regular video game users (n = 257) completed an online questionnaire assessing demographics, symptoms of IGD, general psychopathology, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and impulsivity. Participants meeting criteria for IGD (8.7%, n = 21) played video games significantly more often (p = 0.04) and for more hours at a time (p = 0.002), and experienced significantly greater subjective urges to use video games (p < 0.001). Furthermore, those with IGD endorsed significantly more symptoms of depression (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and stress (p = 0.01), lower life satisfaction (p < 0.001), and elevated motor (p = 0.02) and attentional impulsivity (p = 0.01). Proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for IGD appear to capture a clinically meaningful cluster of symptoms that is associated with marked impairments in multiple aspects of psychosocial functioning.

Cocaine use disorder prevalence: From current DSM-IV to proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria with both a two and three severity level classification system.

This article presents a secondary analysis from a study investigating the compatibility of the current DSM-IV and previously proposed DSM-5 cocaine use disorder (CUD) criteria (S. L. Proctor, A. M. Kopak, & N. G. Hoffmann, 2012, Compatibility of current DSM-IV and proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for cocaine use disorders. Addictive Behaviors, 37, 722-728). The current analyses examined the compatibility of the current DSM-IV and two sets of proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for CUDs among adult male inmates (N = 6,871) recently admitted to the Minnesota Department of Corrections state prison system from 2000-2003. Initially proposed DSM-5 criteria (DSM-5.0) featured only two diagnostic designations (i.e., moderate and severe). A subsequent revision (DSM-5.1) included the addition of a mild designation and required a greater number of positive findings for the severe designation. A computer-prompted structured diagnostic interview was administered to all inmates as part of routine clinical assessments. The past 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV CUDs was 12.70% (Abuse, 3.78%, Dependence, 8.92%), while 10.98% met past 12-month DSM-5.1 criteria for a CUD (Mild [MiCUD], 1.72%; Moderate [MCUD], 1.12%; and Severe [SCUD], 8.14%). The vast majority of those with no diagnosis (99.6%) continued to have no diagnosis, and most of those with a dependence diagnosis (91.2%) met SCUD criteria of the proposed DSM-5.1. Most of the variation in DSM-5.1 diagnostic classifications was accounted for by those with a current abuse diagnosis. DSM-5.0 MCUD cases were most affected when DSM-5.1 criteria were applied. The proposed diagnostic changes might translate to reduced access to treatment for those individuals evincing symptoms consistent with DSM-IV cocaine abuse.

Feasibility and acceptability of the DSM‐5 Field Trial procedures in the Johns Hopkins Community Psychiatry Programs

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) contains criteria for psychiatric diagnoses that reflect advances in the science and conceptualization of mental disorders and address the needs of clinicians. DSM-5 also recommends research on dimensional measures of cross-cutting symptoms and diagnostic severity, which are expected to better capture patients' experiences with mental disorders. Prior to its May 2013 release, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) conducted field trials to examine the feasibility, clinical utility, reliability, and where possible, the validity of proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and dimensional measures. The methods and measures proposed for the DSM-5 field trials were pilot tested in adult and child/adolescent clinical samples, with the goal to identify and correct design and procedural problems with the proposed methods before resources were expended for the larger DSM-5 Field Trials. Results allowed for the refinement of the protocols, procedures, and measures, which facilitated recruitment, implementation, and completion of the DSM-5 Field Trials. These results highlight the benefits of pilot studies in planning large multisite studies.

Shared genetic vulnerability for disordered gambling and alcohol use disorder in men and women: evidence from a national community-based Australian Twin Study.

Disordered gambling (DG) will soon be included along with the substance use disorders in a revised diagnostic category of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5 called 'Substance Use and Addictive Disorders'. This was premised in part on the common etiologies of DG and the substance use disorders. Using data from the national community-based Australian Twin Registry, we used biometric model fitting to examine the extent to which the genetic liabilities for DG and alcohol use disorder (AUD) were shared, and whether this differed for men and women. The effect of using categorical versus dimensional DG and AUD phenotypes was explored, as was the effect of using diagnoses based on the DSM-IV and the proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. The genetic correlations between DG and AUD ranged from 0.29 to 0.44. There was a significantly larger genetic correlation between DG and AUD among men than women when using dimensional phenotypes. Overall, about one-half to two-thirds of the association between DG and AUD was due to a shared genetic vulnerability. This study represents one of the few empirical demonstrations of an overlap in the genetic risk for DG and another substance-related addictive disorder. More research is needed on the genetic overlap between DG and other substance use disorders, as well as the genetic overlap between DG and other (non-substance-related) psychiatric disorders.

Validity of proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for nicotine use disorder: results from 734 Israeli lifetime smokers

The fifth edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5) proposes aligning nicotine use disorder (NUD) criteria with those for other substances, by including the current DSM fourth edition (DSM-IV) nicotine dependence (ND) criteria, three abuse criteria (neglect roles, hazardous use, interpersonal problems) and craving. Although NUD criteria indicate one latent trait, evidence is lacking on: (1) validity of each criterion ; (2) validity of the criteria as a set ; (3) comparative validity between DSM-5 NUD and DSM-IV ND criterion sets ; and (4) NUD prevalence. Nicotine criteria (DSM-IV ND, abuse and craving) and external validators (e.g., smoking soon after awakening, number of cigarettes per day) were assessed with a structured interview in 734 lifetime smokers from an Israeli household sample. Regression analysis evaluated the association between validators and each criterion. Receiver operating characteristic analysis assessed the association of the validators with the DSM-5 NUD set (number of criteria endorsed) and tested whether DSM-5 or DSM-IV provided the most discriminating criterion set. Changes in prevalence were examined. Each DSM-5 NUD criterion was significantly associated with the validators, with strength of associations similar across the criteria. As a set, DSM-5 criteria were significantly associated with the validators, were significantly more discriminating than DSM-IV ND criteria, and led to increased prevalence of binary NUD (two or more criteria) over ND. All findings address previous concerns about the DSM-IV nicotine diagnosis and its criteria and support the proposed changes for DSM-5 NUD, which should result in improved diagnosis of nicotine disorders.

DSM-5 FIELD SURVEY: HAIR-PULLING DISORDER (TRICHOTILLOMANIA)

The aim of this multisite field survey was to examine the DSM-IV-TR criteria, proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, as well as a number of possible additional diagnostic criteria, in patients with hair-pulling disorder (HPD, or trichotillomania). Four sites were involved. Participants older than 10 years of age, male or female, with hair-pulling symptoms in the last 4 weeks were included. Participants were assessed with two modules based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID-I/P), which addressed the DSM-IV-TR criteria set as well as proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for HPD, respectively. Additional questions were established to test other possible diagnostic criteria. Eighty-four (79 female, 5 male, 83 adult) participants with current hair-pulling symptoms were included. All of these participants had recurrent hair-pulling and most (n = 82 [98%]) reported repeated attempts to decrease or stop hair-pulling, and 70 (n = 70 [83%]) met the clinical significance criterion. Diagnostic criteria focused on "urge," "tension," "need," "drive," or "impulse" to pull, or pleasure, gratification or relief during or after pulling, were endorsed by many, but not all. Individuals who did endorse such criteria had significantly more severe hair-pulling symptoms. These data support the proposed diagnostic criteria for HPD in adults. Although most adult patients have urges to pull or experience a sense of relief on pulling, as in the case of skin-picking disorder, such phenomena are not universal and so should not be included in the diagnostic criteria. An additional criterion focused on repeated attempts to decrease or stop hair-pulling seems warranted.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

This article reviews the main issues associated with the concept and the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and examines the proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for GAD. The lack of specific features, which is the primary issue for GAD, will not be addressed in DSM-5. The hallmark of the condition will remain pathological worry, although it also characterizes other disorders. Likewise, the proposed behavioral diagnostic criteria lack specificity for GAD, and it is not clear how these will be assessed. The proposed changes will lower the diagnostic threshold for GAD in DSM-5. Although this will not necessarily lead to a better recognition of GAD and an improvement in the perception of its relevance and clinical utility, many currently subthreshold cases will qualify for this diagnosis. The likely inclusion of many such "false-positives" will result in an artificial increase in the prevalence of GAD and will have further negative consequences.

Comparing Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Developmentally Disabled Adult Population Using the Current DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria and the Proposed DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

The American Psychiatric Association is making changes in the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) criteria for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). In order to examine potential effects of the changing of the criteria, 330 adults with intellectual disability (ID) from two developmental centers were examined. However, due to the fact that the DSM-IV-TR/ICD-10 Checklist does not contain one of the restricted behavior items listed in the current proposed DSM-5 criteria, 41 participants were eliminated from the study. An additional 62 individuals were randomly removed from the study so that no one group was 1.5 times larger than any other group. This left a total of 227 individuals. These individuals were divided into three groups: those who met criteria for an ASD according to only DSM-IV-TR criteria, those who met criteria according to the proposed DSM-5 criteria, and controls with ID not meeting ASD criteria according to either diagnostic system. After statistical analysis, individuals in the DSM-5 group evinced significantly greater overall ASD core symptoms than those in the DSM-IV-TR group or controls. In addition, those in the DSM-IV-TR group exhibited significantly greater overall ASD core symptoms than those in the control group. Furthermore, we found that the percentage of adults diagnosed with ASD declined by 36.53% when using DSM-5 as compared to DSM-IV-TR criteria. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Proposed DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study evaluated the potential impact of proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study focused on a sample of 933 participants evaluated during the DSM-IV field trial; 657 carried a clinical diagnosis of an ASD, and 276 were diagnosed with a non-autistic disorder. Sensitivity and specificity for proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria were evaluated using field trial symptom checklists as follows: individual field trial checklist items (e.g., nonverbal communication); checklist items grouped together as described by a single DSM-5 symptom (e.g., nonverbal and verbal communication); individual DSM-5 criterion (e.g., social-communicative impairment); and overall diagnostic criteria. When applying proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for ASD, 60.6% (95% confidence interval: 57%-64%) of cases with a clinical diagnosis of an ASD met revised DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for ASD. Overall specificity was high, with 94.9% (95% confidence interval: 92%-97%) of individuals accurately excluded from the spectrum. Sensitivity varied by diagnostic subgroup (autistic disorder = 0.76; Asperger's disorder = 0.25; pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified = 0.28) and cognitive ability (IQ < 70 = 0.70; IQ ≥ 70 = 0.46). Proposed DSM-5 criteria could substantially alter the composition of the autism spectrum. Revised criteria improve specificity but exclude a substantial portion of cognitively able individuals and those with ASDs other than autistic disorder. A more stringent diagnostic rubric holds significant public health ramifications regarding service eligibility and compatibility of historical and future research.

Compatibility of current DSM-IV and proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for cocaine use disorders

ObjectivesThe present study examined the compatibility of the current DSM-IV and proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for cocaine use disorders (CUD) among state prison inmates, and evaluated the diagnostic utility of the proposed criteria in accounting for DSM-IV “diagnostic orphans” (i.e., individuals who meet one or two of the diagnostic criteria for substance dependence yet fail to report indications of substance abuse). MethodData were derived from routine clinical assessments of adult male inmates (N=6871) recently admitted to the Minnesota Department of Corrections state prison system from 2000 to 2003. An automated (i.e., computer-prompted) version of the Substance Use Disorder Diagnostic Schedule-IV (SUDDS-IV; Hoffmann & Harrison, 1995) was administered to all inmates as part of routine assessments. DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria were coded using proposed guidelines. ResultsThe past 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV CUDs was 12.7% (Abuse, 3.8%, Dependence, 8.9%), while 11.0% met past 12-month DSM-5 criteria for a CUD (Moderate [MCUD], 1.7%; Severe [SCUD], 9.3%). When DSM-5 criteria were applied, 11.8% of the DSM-IV diagnostic orphans received a MCUD diagnosis. The vast majority of those with no diagnosis (99.6%) continued to have no diagnosis, and a similar proportion who met dependence criteria (98.4%) met SCUD criteria of the proposed DSM-5. Most of the variation in diagnostic classifications was accounted for by those with a current abuse diagnosis. ConclusionsThe proposed DSM-5 criteria perform similarly to DSM-IV criteria in terms of the observed past 12-month CUD prevalence and diagnostic classifications. The proposed criteria appear to account for diagnostic orphans that may warrant a diagnosis. DSM-IV abuse cases were most affected when DSM-5 criteria were applied. Additional criteria, beyond those included in the proposed DSM-5 changes, concerning use to relieve emotional stress and preoccupation with use were frequently endorsed by those with a proposed DSM-5 diagnosis.

Comparison of DSM‐IV versus proposed DSM‐5 diagnostic criteria for eating disorders: Reduction of eating disorder not otherwise specified and validity

Revised Eating Disorder (ED) diagnostic criteria have been proposed for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 to reduce the preponderance of eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) and increase the validity of diagnostic groups. This article compares DSM-IV and proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria on number of EDNOS cases and validity. Participants (N = 397; 91% female) completed structured clinical interviews in a two-stage epidemiological study of EDs. Interviewers did not follow standard skip rules, making it possible to evaluate alternative ED diagnostic criteria. Using DSM-IV versus DSM-5 criteria, 34 (14%) versus 48 (20%) had anorexia nervosa, 43 (18%) versus 44 (18%) had bulimia nervosa, and 163 (68%) had EDNOS versus 20 (8%) had binge eating disorder (BED), and 128 (53%) had EDNOS, respectively, reflecting a significant decrease in EDNOS. Validation analyses supported significant differences among groups with some improvement associated with delineation of BED. Proposed revisions to EDs in the DSM-5 significantly reduced reliance on EDNOS without loss of information.

Non-suicidal self-injury

Self-injury is a relatively common phenomenon in adolescence. Often there is no suicidal intent; rather, the action is used for one or more reasons that relate to reducing distressing affect, inflicting self-punishment and/or signalling personal distress to important others. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is both deliberate and contains no desire to die and therefore aetiology is likely to be at least partly different to suicidal behaviour per se. Interestingly, NSSI is associated with subsequent suicide attempts suggesting that these behaviours and their related psychology may lie on the same risk trajectory. NSSI neither appears in DSM-IV or ICD 10 as a disorder nor does it constitute a component of any current anxious or depressive syndrome. This lack of nosological recognition coupled with clear psychopathological importance is to be recognised in the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), with NSSI being classified as a syndrome in its own right. We agree that this is appropriate and is likely to have several positive consequences including: (1) improving communication between professionals and patients; (2) informing treatment and management decisions; (3) increasing research into the nature, course and outcome of NSSI. We agree with the proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, although believe the impairment criterion would be better phrased if it stated that self-injury is associated with, rather than causal for, intense distress.

Critical appraisal of the provisional DSM-5 criteria for anorexia nervosa and an alternative proposal

DSM-V will be highly influential in shaping conceptions and perceptions of eating disorders by the lay public, patients, and health care providers over the next 10-15 years. DSM not only influences how medical and mental health care professionals diagnose and treat patients but also impacts health insurance policies, research funding, and clinical trials. Revisions to diagnostic criteria must be carefully considered, empirically based, and consistent with current thinking both within the field and across relevant fields. Resultant criteria should be descriptive and non-judgmental and based on empirical findings without recourse to assumed etiologies. In this forum, we review problems with the current DSM IV diagnostic criteria, concerns with the proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, and present an alternative classification scheme for anorexia nervosa (AN), which more accurately captures the phenomenology of the disorder and is congruent in terminology with other fields of biomedicine.