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The DSM was never designed nor intended to provide a framework for self-understanding of psychopathology. It is also, in my opinion, quite unsuited for this task. It is a diagnostic manual for use by professionals that assumes a certain degree of professional training. It is not a manual for patients...

The DSM was never designed nor intended to provide a framework for self-understanding of psychopathology. It is also, in my opinion, quite unsuited for this task. It is a diagnostic manual for use by professionals that assumes a certain degree of professional training. It is not a manual for patients or the general public. The deceptive simplicity of the manual, however, facilitates and encourages its use by non-professionals. This noted by the psychiatrist John Sadler in his book Values and Psychiatric Diagnosis

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Another excellent piece by Awais Aftab on diagnosis and self understanding in mental health/illness.