2.3 Specifiers

Specifiers are new in the DSM 5

• New to the DSM 5, is the use of “specifiers”—when provided in the DSM 5, specifiers apply to the client’s current presentation and ONLY when full criteria for a disorder have been met. Specifiers adds specificity to a diagnoses, they tell us the following information
  • Course— e.g., in partial remission
  • Severity—e.g., mild, moderate, severe
  • Frequency—e.g., two times per week
  • Duration—e.g., minimum duration 6 months
  • Descriptive., features—with poor insight
    • Two alternative catchall specifiers
      • Other Specified Disorders—symptoms are clinically significant but DO NOT MEET full criteria for a disorder (must give reason)
      • Unspecified Disorder—presentation is clinically significant and does NOT MEET the full criteria for a disorder, and the clinician chooses not to specify the reason—insufficient information