"[The DSM] it's not really a bible, it shouldn't be worshipped.  It's a guide, it's mostly a guide to clinical care to help in deciding who has what disorder, and what's the best treatment for it. Unfortunately [it] has been taken out of context, and used in many real life decisions often beyond the competence of the manual … so it's moved out of the clinical arena ... and now it has all sort of society influences often beyond its competence." Allen Francis, M.D.

via ALJAZEERA Inside Story Americas:

Redefining mental illness

As the new edition of an influential US psychiatry manual is released, we analyse its impact beyond clinical diagnosis. Inside Story Americas Last Modified: 23 May 2013 09:37

Inside Story Americas, with presenter Shihab Rattansi, discusses with guests: Dr. Allen Frances, former chair of the psychiatry department at Duke University and author of the book Saving Normal; and Robert Whitaker, a journalist and author of the book Anatomy of an Epidemic.  Read the article here 

hat tip: Kermit Cole at madinamerica.com