Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Deconstructing DSM 5: de-classifying childhood

Callaghan, J. and Fellin, L. (2013) Deconstructing DSM 5: de-classifying childhood. Paper presented to: Children and Young People's Mental Health: Improving Outcomes, Widening Access and Tackling Stigma in an Age of Austerity, The University of Northampton, 03-05 July 2013. (Unpublished)

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Abstract: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 (DSM-5) was released last month amidst a storm of criticism and controversy. Much of the focus of critique has been on the development and application of new categories of ‘mental illness’ for adults. However, the implications of changes in the DSM-5 for children and young people are far reaching. In particular, concerns have been expressed about the increasing emphasis on medico-physiological issues in understanding young people’s distress, as well as the introduction of new diagnostic categories for which the evidence base is quite variable. In this paper we focus on three changes in the DSM-5, considering the implications of these for our understanding of psychological distress, and for our understanding of childhood. The first is the changes in the diagnosis of ‘post-traumatic stress disorder’, and the way that violence is conceptualized in the new DSM. We the consider the introduction of ‘Gender Identity Disorder’, exploring how this construction functions to fix gender identity and sexuality as a fixed and rigid phenomenon, pathologising variations from reproductively defined and heteronormative readings of sexuality. Finally we consider the implications of the broadening of the understanding of ‘addiction’ to include non-biological phenomena like ‘internet addiction’ and consider the implications of this for our understanding of 21st century children’s lives. Our broad argument will focus on the way that the DSM handles (or fails to handle) social and cultural material in its conceptualization of ‘disorder’
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Women > HQ767 Children. Child development
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ50 Examination. Diagnosis
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ499 Mental disorders. Child psychiatry
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV697 Protection, assistance and relief > HV701 Children
Creators: Callaghan, Jane and Fellin, Lisa
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Group > Social and Cultural Research in Psychology Group
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > School of Social Sciences (to 2016)
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences
Date: 5 July 2013
Date Type: Presentation
Event Title: Children and Young People's Mental Health: Improving Outcomes, Widening Access and Tackling Stigma in an Age of Austerity
Event Dates: 03-05 July 2013
Event Location: The University of Northampton
Event Type: Conference
Language: English
Status: Unpublished
Refereed: Yes
Related URLs:
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/5563

Actions (login required)

Edit Item Edit Item