Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder: DSM-II

by American Psychiatric Association

DSM-II free download, BN 2940035755477, no reissue date.

Published January 1, 1968

About the author

APA is an organization of psychiatrists working together to ensure humane care and effective treatment for all persons with mental illness, including substance use disorders.

Reviews

[Anyong · Rating 3 out of 5]

DSM-1 is practically inaccessible. From what I understand, DSM-1 was assembled in a three ring binder and there is a copy hidden away somewhere at some library. My university had a cool library exchange program with incredible reach. DSM-2 is quite rare as well, but it’s not kept under glass or whatever the case is with DSM-1.

Compared to other DSMs this was a thin volume. Were it printed on paperback it could easily fit in a generously sized jean or jacket pocket and its weight would have let it be easily forgotten there as well. While it is certainly out of date in light of the decades of research that have occurred and the growth of the fields of Psychology and Psychiatry what I found most interesting were the similarities.

The introduction begins with what has become a common refrain in the industry. I can’t quote the book but essentially it talks about the categories the book includes being less definite boundaries and more like mile markers along the road of human psychology. Despite its flaws you can see the same spirit at work then as it is today.