DSM-5 Major Categories
Overview
The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, 2013) is the primary classification system for mental disorders used in the United States and widely adopted internationally. It provides standardized criteria for diagnosis to improve reliability and guide treatment selection.
Major Diagnostic Categories
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Intellectual Disability
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- ADHD
- Specific Learning Disorders
- Communication Disorders
Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective Disorder
- Brief Psychotic Disorder
- Delusional Disorder
Bipolar and Related Disorders
- Bipolar I Disorder
- Bipolar II Disorder
- Cyclothymic Disorder
Depressive Disorders
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Anxiety Disorders
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Specific Phobia
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
- OCD
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder
- Hoarding Disorder
- Trichotillomania
Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders
- PTSD
- Acute Stress Disorder
- Adjustment Disorders
- Reactive Attachment Disorder
Dissociative Disorders
- Dissociative Identity Disorder
- Dissociative Amnesia
- Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
- Somatic Symptom Disorder
- Illness Anxiety Disorder
- Conversion Disorder
Feeding and Eating Disorders
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Binge Eating Disorder
Sleep-Wake Disorders
Sexual Dysfunctions
Gender Dysphoria
Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Conduct Disorder
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder
Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
Neurocognitive Disorders
- Delirium
- Major Neurocognitive Disorder (Dementia)
- Mild Neurocognitive Disorder
Personality Disorders
- Paranoid
- Schizoid
- Schizotypal
- Antisocial
- Borderline
- Histrionic
- Narcissistic
- Avoidant
- Dependent
- Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Other Clinical Conditions
Evidence-Based Practice Note
DSM-5 diagnosis should inform treatment selection but not determine it. Treatment should always be guided by:
- Evidence-based guidelines for the specific disorder
- Individual client characteristics and preferences
- Clinical expertise
- Comorbidity and complexity considerations
ICD-11 Comparison
The ICD-11 (WHO) aligns closely with DSM-5 but is used internationally. Key differences are minimal for most disorders.
Source Metadata
- Type: Reference overview
- Primary source: APA (2013) DSM-5; DSM-5-TR (2022)
- Updated: 2025