Skin Picking has an Official Diagnosis in the DSM
If anyone ever tells you that what you suffer from is not real, show them this. It is real. It is legitimate. You have an issue that can be diagnosed… And by the way, good news. It can also be healed!!!
The upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) will include a new chapter on Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders to reflect the increasing evidence of these disorders’ relatedness to one another and distinction from other anxiety disorders, as well as to help clinicians better identify and treat individuals suffering from these disorders. Disorders grouped in this new chapter have features in common such as an obsessive preoccupation and repetitive behaviors. The disorders included in this new chapter have enough similarities to group them together in the same diagnostic classification but enough important differences between them to exist as distinct disorders. Disorders in this chapter include obsessive-compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder and trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder), as well as two new disorders: hoarding disorder and excoriation (skinpicking) disorder.
Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder
Excoriation (skin-picking) disorder is characterized by recurrent skin picking resulting in skin lesions. Individuals with excoriation disorder must have made repeated attempts to decrease or stop the skin picking, which must cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning. The symptoms must not be better explained by symptoms of another mental disorder. This disorder is included in DSM-5 because of substantial scientific literature on excoriation’s prevalence, diagnostic validators and treatment. Studies show that the prevalence of excoriation is estimated at approximately two to four percent of the population. Resulting problems may include medical issues such as infections, skin lesions, scarring and physical disfigurement.
Process for a New Diagnosis New diagnoses were included in DSM-5 only after a comprehensive review of the scientific literature; full discussion by Work Group members; review by the DSM-5 Task Force, Scientific Review Committee, and Clinical and Public Health Committee; and, finally, evaluation by the American Psychiatric Association’s Board of Trustees. Trustees approved the final diagnostic criteria for DSM-5 in December 2012. DSM is the manual used by clinicians and researchers to diagnose and classify mental disorders. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) will publish DSM-5 in 2013, culminating a 14-year revision process. For more information, go to www. DSM5.org. APA is a national medical specialty society whose more than 36,000 physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses, including substance use disorders. Visit the APA at www.psychiatry.org and www.healthyminds.org. For more information, please contact Eve Herold at 703-907-8640 or press@psych.org. © 2013 American Psychiatric Association
http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/Obsessive%20Compulsive%20Disorders%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
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