Response

Please respond to at least 2 of your peer’s posts.  

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Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.

AMAmanda MorganOct 29 6:19pm| Last edited Oct 29 6:20pm

Reply from Amanda Morgan

Introduction

Hello everyone, my name is Amanda Morgan, and I live in Illinois. My nursing background is in pediatrics, and I currently work in home health. I chose PMHNP as my concentration because of the experiences I have had with loved ones, the mental health needs within my community, and the growing mental health crisis across the country.

DSM-5-TR

The primary purpose of the DSM-5-TR is to provide a common language and standardized criteria for identifying mental disorders, support reliable diagnosis across clinicians and settings, and facilitate clinical care, education, billing, administration, and research (First et al., 2022). It emphasizes descriptive diagnostic criteria plus expanded, updated clinical text, such as risk and prognostic factors and cultural and gender considerations. This enables clinicians to apply diagnostic criteria within a fuller clinical context rather than mechanically (First et al., 2022). In clinical practice, the DSM-5-TR is intended to structure diagnostic interviews against explicit criteria, guide differential diagnosis and rule-outs, document diagnoses for treatment planning and coordination with other providers/insurers, and consult the text sections for cultural, developmental, and differential considerations that inform individualized care (American Psychiatric Association, 2025).

DSM-5-TR Organization

The DSM-5-TR is divided into three sections according to the three principal components: diagnostic classification, diagnostic criteria set, and descriptive text (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Section I is the DSM-5 Basics/Use of the Manual, including how to apply criteria and cautions for forensic use. Section II is the Diagnostic Criteria and Codes, which includes 20 disorder chapters grouped by diagnostic families, such as bipolar and related disorders, depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders. Section III includes updated diagnostic text, terminology, and select criteria and specifiers (First et al., 2022).

Diagnosis and Label Difference

The difference between a “diagnosis” and a “label” is that a diagnosis is a clinical statement that requires a patient to meet a set of observable criteria, while a label is a name used to describe a diagnosis that may stereotype or stigmatize (American Psychiatric Association, n.d.; Volkow et al., 2021). A PMHNP can reduce stigma when using diagnostic terms using first-person, non-stigmatizing language, such as saying “a person living with bipolar disorder” rather than saying “bipolar person” (Volkow et al., 2021). Another way to reduce stigma is to frame diagnoses descriptively, which presents the diagnosis as a tool, rather than defining permanent identity by emphasizing recovery, prognosis, and strengths (First et al., 2022).  Other strategies include using collaborative language and shared decision-making by involving patients in diagnostic formulation and using education and anti-stigma intervention through clinician education and contact-based interventions (Shahwan et al., 2022).

References

American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). About DSM-5-TR. https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm/about-dsmLinks to an external site.

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). The organization of DSM-5-TR. https://www.psychiatry.org/getmedia/0191c8c8-4151-4bde-9cba-263db78a2734/APA-DSM5TR-TheOrganizationofDSM.pdfLinks to an external site.

American Psychiatric Association. (2025, September). DSM-5-TR update. https://www.psychiatry.org/getmedia/b68a5776-f88c-45c7-9535-fd219d7aa5cb/APA-DSM5TR-Update-September-2025.pdfLinks to an external site.

First, M. B., Clarke, D. E., Yousif, L., Eng, A. M., Gogtay, N., & Appelbaum, P. S. (2022). DSM-5-TR: Rationale, process, and overview of changes. Psychiatric Services, 74(8), 869–875. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.20220334Links to an external site.

Shahwan, S., Goh, C. M. J., Tan, G. T. H., Ong, W. J., Chong, S. A., & Subramaniam, M. (2022). Strategies to reduce mental illness stigma: Perspectives of people with lived experience and caregivers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1632. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031632Links to an external site.

Volkow, N. D., Gordon, J. A., & Koob, G. F. (2021). Choosing appropriate language to reduce the stigma around mental illness and substance use disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology, 46(13), 2230–2232. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-021-01069-4Links to an external site.

• Reply to post from Amanda MorganReply

CFChina FitzgeraldOct 29 5:53pm

Reply from China Fitzgerald

Hi everyone, my name is China Fitgerald, I currently reside in the great state of Oklahoma also known as Sooner country. I have been a registered nurse for 9 years with experience in medical surgical/Tele for about 7 years, behavioral health for 16 months, and have been currently employed as a state correctional facility nurse for 11.5 months.   I chose PMHNP as my concentration due to witnessing the shortage of mental health providers and available care within close distance for families. I would notice patients being admitted from cities 2-3 hours away and sometimes from another state. The worst part was seeing parents in distress crying due to never being able to get an appointment with a provider due to a waiting list or the providers in the area not taking patients. Insurance and transportation were an issue with adults as distance was too far to make it to appointments and providers not accepting certain insurance. I decided then and there that’s where I could make a difference.

What is the primary purpose of the DSM-5-TR, and how is it intended to be used in clinical practice? 

The DSM-5-TR is an updated version of the DSM-5 has new diagnosis, grief disorders, and symptom codes that help with identifying suicidal behavior history (American Psychiatric Association, 2024). The DSM-5 TR also identifies current suicidal symptoms and non-suicidal self-harm (American Psychiatric Association, 2024) The resource is intended for diagnosing mental health disorders with correct symptoms to aid in an objective assessment for mental disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2024).

Describe the organization of the DSM-5-TR. What are the main sections and how are disorders grouped? 

The DSM-5 TR has 3 sections that include the diagnostic classification, the diagnostic criteria set, and the descriptive text (American Psychiatric Association, 2024). The disorders are grouped in classes, similar disorders are grouped under the same class to make use of the manual easier (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2016).

In your own words, what is the difference between a “diagnosis” and a “label,” and how can a PMHNP reduce stigma when using diagnostic terms?

A diagnosis it met by medical criteria and objective observations while a label is opinion or jargon used such as calling someone a junkie instead of referring them to having a substance use disorder.  The PMHNP should use appropriate medical terminology as much as possible while remaining professional and refrain from using slang words used to describe mental health disorders.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2024). About DSM-5 and Development. Psychiatry.org; American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm/about-dsmLinks to an external site. 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016, June). DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes: Overview. Nih.gov; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519711/Links to an external site.