Moving beyond the DSM: Data-driven approach could reshape mental health treatment

Medical Xpress October 21, 2024
Georgia Gowing, Macquarie University

A new Macquarie University study suggests that instead of relying on the ‘bible’ of mental health diagnosis, we need a data-driven approach based on the ways symptoms naturally co-occur in real life, and this approach could have huge implications for future treatment options.

The work is published in the journal Clinical Psychological Science.

For nearly 75 years, the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health” (DSM) has been the go-to text for diagnosing mental health conditions.

But when two people can receive the same diagnosis despite not having a single symptom in common, Macquarie University Associate Professor of Psychology Miri Forbes says the system needs to be rethought.

“To be diagnosed with major depressive disorder—sometimes called clinical depression—someone has to...

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