ICD and DSM: Similarities and Differences Between the Two Manuals

  There are two major diagnostical manuals of clinical psychology and psychiatry that list investigated disorders. These are the DSM and the ICD. It’s interesting to study the similarities and differences between the two manuals in order to choose which one is best to work with. Both are extremely comprehensive classifications. They cover all areas of mental health. For example, neurodevelopmental and dissociative disorders, somatic symptom disorders, sexual dysfunctions, paraphilic disorders, and personality disorders. Psychology is built on a classification system of disorders. This means that, from a series of psychopathological traits or symptoms, specific disorders or conditions are constructed that define…