Abstract

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders revision process has been systematically biased toward expanding diagnostic criteria to become more inclusive, but research has yet to determine if the DSM-5 shows signs of the same bias. In this study, 83 disorders revised between the DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5 received codes based on whether the diagnostic criteria conceptually became more inclusive by allowing more individuals to be diagnosed or more exclusive by allowing fewer individuals to be diagnosed. Results showed that more disorders shifted toward inclusivity than toward exclusivity. Also, seven out of 10 types of DSM revisions showed a net shift toward inclusivity. These results indicate that expansion of the concept of mental disorder has continued with the DSM-5.