Presenter: Christopher A. Kearney, University of Nevada, Las Vegas The recent changes to the DSM system include some movement toward a more dimensional way of viewing mental disorders. How do you make sure your abnormal course is up-to-date? How do you help your students understand the dimensional nature of mental disorders? This dimensional approach to mental disorders is well represented Abnormal Psychology and Life, 2e, by Chris Kearney (University of Nevada-Las Vegas). Fully equipped with the changes evident in DSM-5, the new edition continues to emphasize the conceptualization of mental disorders along a continuum and helps you embrace and employ the dimensional approach in your course. This webinar will outline key changes in the DSM-5, including diagnostic criteria, cultural formulations, and alternative ways of viewing certain problems such as personality disorders. New changes to APL 2e that further advance its main themes, such as diversity and stigma, will be discussed as well.

2. DSM-5 and Abnormal Psychology and Life, 2e
Key themes of this webinar
• Important DSM-5 changes related to the
categorical and dimensional nature of mental
disorders
• How these and other DSM-5 changes are fully
integrated into APL, 2e
• How APL, 2e expands on approaches from the
first edition, including diversity and stigma

3. DSM-5 and Abnormal Psychology and Life, 2e
Categorical approach to mental disorders
• Divides into types
• Based upon criteria sets
• Defining, essential features
• Homogeneous types
• Defined boundaries
• Mutually exclusive categories

4. DSM-5 and Abnormal Psychology and Life, 2e
Dimensional approach to mental disorders
• Overlapping characteristics
• Few clear boundaries
• Heterogeneous types
• Provides flexibility
• Symptoms along a continuum
• Sharing of symptoms and risk factors

5. DSM-5 and Abnormal Psychology and Life, 2e
Concerns about DSM-IV
• Overuse of NOS diagnoses (most frequent)
• Comorbidity studies
• Overly narrow categories to avoid false
positive results
• Clustering of disorders (e.g., internalizing and
externalizing) where symptoms such as
depression overlap
• Multiaxial system less useful than anticipated

6. DSM-5 and Abnormal Psychology and Life, 2e
Key statements in DSM-5
• Page 12: “narrow diagnostic categories do not
capture clinical reality”
• Page 13: “Despite the problem posed by
categorical diagnoses, the (task force)
recognized that it is premature … to propose
alternative definitions for most disorders”
• Meant to serve as a “bridge” to later systems

7. DSM-5 and Abnormal Psychology and Life, 2e
Integration of DSM-5 categorical aspects into
APL, 2e: Examples
• Inclusion of all DSM-5 criteria
• Integration of previous category names with
DSM-5 terminology
• Renaming of some chapters, but with an eye
toward a seamless transition from
1e, including maintaining a 15-chapter format

8. DSM-5 and Abnormal Psychology and Life, 2e
Integration of DSM-5 dimensional aspects into
APL, 2e: Examples re: disorders
• Chapter 10 – personality disorders: elements
of personality functioning and pathological
traits
• Chapter 12 – psychotic disorders: dimensions
of disorganized speech, impaired
cognition, negative symptoms, mania, etc.
• Chapter 14 – mild to major neurocognitive
disorder

9. DSM-5 and Abnormal Psychology and Life, 2e
Integration of DSM-5 dimensional aspects into
APL, 2e: developmental aspects and specifiers
• Developmental aspects: e.g., varying age-based
criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder
• Specifying information: e.g., BMI for
anorexia, compensatory behaviors for
bulimia, number of symptoms in alcohol use
disorder, severity levels for several disorders
(e.g., sexual dysfunctions, autism spectrum
disorder)

10. DSM-5 and Abnormal Psychology and Life, 2e
Integration of DSM-5 dimensional aspects into
APL, 2e: Cultural information
• Cultural identity of the client
• Cultural ideas of distress
• Cultural factors related to the social
environment
• Cultural influences on the relationship
between the client and the mental health
professional

11. Abnormal Psychology and Life, 2e: Themes
• Dimensional perspective
• Continua of key emotions, cognitions, and
behaviors for a certain group of mental
disorders ranging from normal to mild to
moderate to less severe to more severe
• Continuum figures throughout
(e.g., worry, anxiety, and fear; suicidality)

12. Abnormal Psychology and Life, 2e: Themes
• Integrative perspective and focus on
risk factors
• Consumer-oriented perspective
• Prevention perspective
• Cultural diversity
• Stigma
• Clinical cases and personal narratives
• Expansion of cultural diversity and stigma

13. www.cengage.com