AO3

• There are three AO3 limitations of the DSM-5:

  • Imposed Etic
  • Lloyd (2006): Cross-Cultural Issues
  • Difficult to diagnose from outlined characteristics
• Imposed Etic


  When a psychological measure developed in one culture is applied to another culture without consideration of cultural differences
• Imposed Etic

  POINT:

  • The DSM-5 is constructed based on western, American individualistic cultural values, making it difficult to generalise to non-western individualistic cultures
• Imposed Etic:

  EXPLANATION

  • When the DSM-5 is used in non-American cultures, it is an imposed etic as it may not be measuring accurately as different cultures have different standards of behaviour
  • The DSM-5 is used globally and is constructed based on the assumption that there is no differences between cultures, meaning that the characteristics are ethnocentric
• Imposed Etic

  LINK:

  • It means that it lacks validity as a classification tool and characteristics lack consistency across cultures
  • The DSM-5 lacks validity and real world application
• Imposed Etic

  EVIDENCE: Lloyd (2006): Cross-Cultural Issues

  • Social phobia (social anxiety) in countries such as Sweden and Norway will be difficult to identify and diagnose as doctors see it as an American concept.
• Difficult to Diagnose from Outlined Characteristics

  POINT

  • The outlined characteristics of phobias from the DSM-5 are similar to other mental disorders.
• Difficult to Diagnose from Outlined Characteristics


  EXPLANATION

  • Phobias may be misdiagnosed as another mental health problem as the outlined characteristics in the DSM-5 creates comorbity issues because phobias are often common with other mental disorders.]
• Difficult to Diagnose from Outlined Characteristics


  EXAMPLE

  • Agoraphobia is often misdiagnosed with depression.
• Difficult to Diagnose from Outlined Characteristics


  LINK

  • This questions the validity of the DSM-5 and it's application to real life.