DSM-5 Arrives

It's been quiet here, but you may still have heard the rumbling of an approaching giant: DSM-5. The new, purple edition of the APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has been in circulation for a couple of years, but until now, you may have been able to avoid it. If you're preparing for the LCSW exam (or any other social work licensing exam), avoiding it is--as of July 1st, 2015--no longer an option. But don't fear. While the DSM-5 may have big impact on some clients by, for example, widening autism or narrowing bipolar disorder, for your exam prepping purposes, the switch isn't a huge deal. The little changes are minor enough to probably escape the interest of ASWB exam item writers. The big changes are in small enough number to be manageable. While this blog may examine some of the more likely-to-show-up-on-the-exam changes in future posts, to take a big gulp of DSM-5 change info, try the links below. Happy reading, happy studying.

For review: DSM-5 changes (APA); DSM-5 changes (Psych Central); DSM-5 (Wikipedia)