The DSM 5: Beyond Skepticism and into Practicality
The DSM 5 (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013) represents dramatic shifts in how we categorize mental disorders. There are numerous considerations including international compatibility, practical implications, and controversies. In order to continue to competently and ethically integrate faith and social work, Christians in social work must stay current on these revisions. This workshop will provide a brief overview of the history and focus of the DSM, as well as provide a summary of the most important changes in the DSM5.
As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
Summarize the history and rationale for the DSM 5 revisions
Articulate the key differences between the DSM IV-TR and DSM 5
Describe several strategies for integrating faith and social work as it pertains to diagnosing mental disorders.
1. Brief overview of history of DSM
2. Importance of Christian social workers' clear, deep knowledge of DSM (includes critiques of DSM)
3. Top 5 changes in DSM 5
Anxiety Disorders re-organization
Removal of Multi-Axial Assessment System (and its replacement)
Disorders of Childhood re-organization (includes updates on RAD and Autistic Spectrum)
Alternative Model of Personalty Disorders
Schizophrenia Spectrum
David Cecil, PhD, LCSW is a social work faculty member in Samford University's MSW Program. He has taught for more than 12 years, having been the Chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Asbury College before coming to Samford. David has maintained a private practice while teaching, and has served on the Kentucky Society for Clinical Social Work Board of Directors (last two years as President). Scholarly pursuits include two publications in past several years, one on relational social work practice and the other on grassroots approaches to addictions in Russia. He is currently working with colleagues at Samford on a best-practices study about the German social work response to the Syrian refugee crisis.