DSM-5

Intermittent Explosive Disorder: The ‘Illness’ That Goes On Growing

August 4, 2015 By Phil Hickey |

According to the APA, intermittent explosive disorder is characterized by angry aggressive outbursts that occur in response to relatively minor provocation. This particular label has an interesting history in successive editions of the DSM. DSM I (1952) Intermittent explosive disorder does not appear as such in the first edition of DSM, but the general concept… Continue Reading

Justina Pelletier: The Case Continues

April 4, 2014 By Phil Hickey |

On March 25, Joseph Johnston, Juvenile Court Justice in Boston, Massachusetts, issued a disposition order in the case: Care and protection of Justina Pelletier. The background to the case is well-known. Justina is 15 years old. Judge Johnston did not return Justina to the care of her parents, but instead granted permanent custody to the… Continue Reading

DSM-5: Dimensionality: Conflicts of Interest

January 25, 2014 By Phil Hickey |

In DSM-5 – Dimensional Diagnoses – More Conflicts of Interest? which I posted on December 23, 2013, I drew attention to the fact that David Kupfer, MD, in his position as head of the DSM-5 Task Force, was vigorously promoting a dimensional model of assessment while at the same time was positioning himself to benefit… Continue Reading

Evaluating DSM-5: A Debate at Harvard

January 16, 2014 By Phil Hickey |

There’s a debate on this topic scheduled for 12:00 p.m., March 11, 2014, at Wasserstein Hall, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The event is free, and open to the public. The debate is sponsored by the Petrie-Flom Center For Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School. This is the same group that produced the recent… Continue Reading