The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is periodically updated by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) to reflect current scientific knowledge and to provide standardized criteria for the diagnosis of mental disorders. While the DSM is considered a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers, it is not without limitations. One of these limitations is that it may not always fully capture the complexity of certain conditions or include every theoretical perspective.
Self-disorder, also known as ipseity disturbance, is a concept that has been proposed in the field of phenomenological psychopathology and philosophy of mind. It refers to disturbances in the sense of self or self-experience that some individuals with schizophrenia may experience. This disturbance can involve alterations in how a person perceives or experiences their own thoughts, actions, emotions, and self-awareness.
While self-disorder has been a topic of interest for some researchers and clinicians studying schizophrenia, it has not been included as a specific symptom in the DSM. The DSM criteria for schizophrenia are mainly based on observable and measurable symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and negative symptoms like social withdrawal and emotional blunting.
The decision to include or exclude specific symptoms in the DSM is based on several factors, including research evidence, clinical utility, reliability, and consensus among experts in the field. For a symptom to be included in the DSM, there needs to be a substantial body of research supporting its reliability and validity as a diagnostic criterion.
In the case of self-disorder, the concept is still considered a theoretical and phenomenological construct. While some researchers argue that it may be at the core of schizophrenia, there is ongoing debate and further research is needed to establish its validity as a reliable diagnostic criterion. As the field of psychiatry continues to evolve, future editions of the DSM may incorporate new knowledge and concepts, including those related to the sense of self in schizophrenia or other mental disorders.