DSM-5® Diagnosis in the Schools

Book excerpt: "Efficient and accurate use of the American Psychiatric Association's (2013) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) has become a necessary part of the professional duties of psychologists in a variety of clinical, rehabilitative, and child service agencies. This book is intended to increase child psychologists' familiarity with DSM-5 and to bolster their confidence in using it within school settings. The present text attempts to provide a broad understanding of the DSM-5 system--what it attempts to do, how it is organized, and how to use it most effectively to capture and communicate the unique features of children's and adolescent's problems"--