Anonymous asked this question on 4/7/2000:

It used to be that homosexuality was considered a disorder in the DSM. Now it is considered a normal variation. What is the current thinking re zoophilia? Is it considered a disorder to be "corrected", or is it considered better to help a person feel good about their feeling for animals? Is it likely that in time the DSM will go the same way with zoophilia as it has with homosexuality, or did it only change for homosexuality because of pressure from activists?

Are there any known errors in the DSM?

How much of the DSM is opinion subject to whim and change?

To what degree do phycologists and phyciatrists follow the DSM rather than their own feelings?

karunap gave this response on 4/14/2000:

I cannot address zoophilia but I can offer an opinion on the rest!

I don't think it is a matter of "known errors" in the DSM. I think it is more that people have varying opinions...... often very strong ones. Since there is no way to know what truth is sometimes it is opinions with some evidence behind it that rules.

The example that I can think of is around dissociative disorders particularly DID (multiple personality). There is a huge gulf between therapists and it is a very explosive issue. There are many of us that have no doubt that it exists and then there is a contingency that says there is no such thing as a repressed memory and that either the client is making it up or the therapist has put it in their head. There does not seem to be any way for the two groups to come together.

My understanding of the creation and/or modification of the DSM is that it is a very time consuming and slow process. With differences like the one I stated above finding consensus is very difficult. I assume that changing homosexuality criteria was very similar as it is also a highly charged emotional issue.

In terms of how much we use it.... that also varies tremendously. I have chosen not to take insurance for the most part. Therefore I am not in a position to have to assign written diagnosis very often. I am almost never in the position of assigning diagnosis to someone I have just met. I keep the criteria in the back of my mind and may use the DSM from time to time..... but it is certainly not a primary consideration.

Pressure on getting insurance for patients is a big cause of inappropriate labeling.

Hope this is helpful.

The average rating for this answer is 5.

Anonymous rated this answer a 5.