Desk Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria From DSM-IV-TR (Desk Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria Description:

Desk Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria From DSM-IV-TR (Desk Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria from Dsm) review:
2 stars (A Great Manual To Promote Diseases !!) - The DSM IV-TR is a great book to promote diseases that fit the armaments of medications that the pharmaceutical companies would like physicians to use.

The problem with the whole DSM serie is that it is mostly subjective and based on speculation. The DSM is not based on hard empirical evidence but on a consensual system by few well-connected psychiatrists on the payroll of the pharmaceutical companies. These same psychiatrists also happen to belong to the American Psychiatric Association and/or work as hired guns/consultants for the APA, which also happens to receive yearly funding or gifts (disguised as continuing education) from the pharmaceutical companies $500,000 worth.

The whole process is deceitful and shameful!!!


5 stars (Student to Counselor) - I'll be the first to admit, learning the criteria for all the diagnoses is difficult if not close to impossible. While the DSM is very helpful with all of its background, cultural, and statistics loaded information, it isn't essential for those already in the field. You already had to learn the basics before you completed your degree or licensure program. Now the concern is time and effort. This little guide is easy to navigate through, light-weight, and the spiral bound makes it easy to turn pages to compare between a couple of different classifications (be it BiPolar I Disorder or BiPolar II Disorder). I use this guide everyday at work - and leave that big book sitting on the shelf.
2 stars (format problem) - nice and handy, but i don't like the spiral format. pages are flimsy and begin to rip and shear off shortly after purchase even with careful moderate use. just a waste of money. the only difference between the quick and the desk is the inclusion of the coding chart with the desk reference.