DSM-5 Criteria Explained: Tips for Psychiatric Diagnosis in NRNP-6635-11

→ Common disorders and red flags for nurse practitioner students

In NRNP-6635-11: Psychopathology & Diagnostic Reasoning, one of your most important skills is learning how to accurately identify psychiatric conditions using the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition). Understanding the criteria—and recognizing key red flags—helps ensure accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and documentation.

Whether you're a PMHNP student or an FNP gaining diagnostic insight, this guide offers practical ways to use the DSM-5 effectively.

? What Is the DSM-5?

The DSM-5 is the authoritative guide for diagnosing mental disorders. Each disorder includes:

  • Diagnostic criteria

  • Specifiers and subtypes

  • Differential diagnoses

  • Severity ratings

  • Timeframes and functional impairment requirements

Knowing how to navigate this structure is key for writing accurate diagnoses in your SOAP notes and clinical documentation.

? General Tips for Using the DSM-5

✅ Start with symptom clusters, not labels
✅ Assess duration and impact – many disorders require a minimum timeframe and evidence of functional impairment
✅ Rule out medical causes and substance use
✅ Use structured interviews or screening tools (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7, MDQ) to support findings
✅ Consider cultural and developmental context

? Common Disorders and Their DSM-5 Highlights

? Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

  • At least 5 symptoms during the same 2-week period, including either depressed mood or anhedonia

  • Sleep/appetite changes, guilt, fatigue, psychomotor changes

  • Must cause clinically significant distress or impairment

  • Rule out substance/medical condition and bereavement

? Red Flags: Suicidal ideation, psychosis, marked functional decline

? Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

  • Excessive worry more days than not for 6+ months

  • 3+ symptoms: restlessness, fatigue, irritability, muscle tension, sleep issues

  • Causes distress or dysfunction

? Red Flags: Somatic symptoms misinterpreted as medical illness, overlap with panic disorder

? Bipolar I Disorder

  • At least one manic episode (≥1 week) with 3+ symptoms: grandiosity, decreased sleep, pressured speech, distractibility, risk-taking

  • May have hypomanic or depressive episodes

? Red Flags: Misdiagnosed as unipolar depression; check for elevated mood or irritability

? Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

  • 2+ core symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, catatonia, negative symptoms) for ≥1 month, with disturbance ≥6 months

  • Functional decline is required

? Red Flags: Onset in late adolescence/early adulthood; family history; gradual withdrawal from functioning

? PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

  • Exposure to trauma, plus:

    • Intrusion symptoms (e.g., flashbacks)

    • Avoidance

    • Negative cognition/mood

    • Arousal/reactivity (e.g., hypervigilance)

  • Duration >1 month; functional impairment

? Red Flags: Sleep disturbance, substance misuse, dissociation

? ADHD (Adult)

  • Symptoms must have started before age 12

  • Inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity present in 2+ settings

  • Functional impairment required

? Red Flags: Poor work performance, chronic lateness, misdiagnosed as anxiety

? Helpful Tools and Frameworks

  • DSM-5 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measures – Great for initial assessments

  • Mental Status Exam (MSE) – Use to support DSM findings

  • Differential Diagnosis by Tree Diagram – Helps separate overlapping conditions (e.g., depression vs. bipolar)

? Final Tips for NP Students

  • When documenting, always include DSM-5 codes and criteria justification

  • Consider rule-out diagnoses and comorbidities

  • Practice case formulation (Biopsychosocial + DSM-5 criteria)

  • Use SOAP templates that include DSM checklists

? Ready to Practice?

Want sample DSM-5-based case scenarios, SOAP note templates, or a printable DSM-5 cheat sheet for exams and clinicals? I can create that for you—just say the word!

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