DSM-5

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition) is published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). For each mental disorder, it sets out precise diagnostic criteria: which symptoms, how many, for how long, and with what impact on the person's life.

Its 5th edition appeared in 2013, followed by a revision (DSM-5-TR) in 2022. It is the most widely used classification tool in research and clinical practice, particularly in North America.

The DSM-5 provides a common language: it allows different professionals to talk about the same disorder using the same criteria. This makes diagnoses more reproducible and research comparable from one study to the next.

Many screening questionnaires (including several offered here) are built to reflect the DSM-5 criteria, for example criteria A and B of autism spectrum disorder.

The DSM-5 describes categories, but clinical reality is often more nuanced: disorders overlap and express themselves differently from one person to another. A diagnosis can never be reduced to ticking boxes — it requires a thorough clinical interview.

A questionnaire that is "inspired by the DSM-5" therefore does not establish a diagnosis: it picks up on elements that may, where appropriate, warrant a professional assessment.