DSM-III and DSM-III-R: what are American psychiatrists using and why?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether American psychiatrists have switched from DSM-III to DSM-III-R as their primary diagnostic reference, and to examine what factors predicted the continued use of DSM-III. In 1989, we conducted a mail survey of practicing psychiatrists (N = 454), residency program directors (N = 128), residents (N = 1,331), and researchers (N = 196) regarding their training in, use of, and opinions about DSM-III and DSM-III-R. Approximately 30% of practitioners continued to use DSM-III as their primary diagnostic reference, although this was less frequently true of researchers and residents. In none of the four groups did a majority believe that DSM-III-R was needed, despite the fact that the majority of each group indicated that it was an improvement over DSM-III. The most commonly perceived reasons for publishing DSM-III-R were that it corrected problems with DSM-III and new research indicated changes were warranted. Compared with DSM-III-R users, DSM-III users more frequently believed that the 7-year interval between the two editions was too short, that DSM-III-R was not needed, and that the revised manual was little better than the original. Thus, 2 years after the publication of DSM-III-R 90% of psychiatrists were using DSM-III-R, at least in part, although a substantial minority continued to use DSM-III as their primary diagnostic manual. Even among DSM-III-R users, many believed that the revised manual was not needed. The perceived need for DSM-III-R was associated with the reasons ascribed to its publication; therefore, acceptance of DSM-IV may be partially a function of how its development is promoted and justified. That nearly one third of a random sample of practicing psychiatrists continued to use DSM-III supports concerns that the publication of DSM manuals every 6 or 7 years will divide the psychiatric community into subgroups using different diagnostic criteria.