New Name, New Path for Psychiatry: The Future of the DSM

CONFERENCE REPORTER

Jonathan E. Alpert, MD, PhD, the vice chair of the Future DSM Committee, explored the meaning behind the name change of the upcoming, new DSM, at the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (ASCP) Annual Meeting in Miami, FL.

The American Psychiatric Association released plans for a new edition of the DSM earlier this year.^1,2 This new edition aims to address the shortcomings and critiques of previous editions. Importantly, Alpert explained, the new edition will undergo a name change, going from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to the Diagnostic and Scientific Manual. This change is intended to bring the new edition from a statistical to a scientific approach.

Alpert emphasized the need for epistemic humility in diagnosing mental disorders and the importance of incorporating new scientific findings. The new DSM will include contextual, dimensional, and biological factors, and may not be named DSM-6 due to ongoing framework development. The structure, including chapter headings like neurodevelopmental disorders, may remain or change, with ongoing work on refining and incorporating new disorders.

The initial focus of the first edition of DSM was on statistical data, which was crucial for understanding the epidemiology of mental health issues. This new name aims to capture both the current scientific foundation and the aspirational goal of further scientific advancement.

The DSM must be scientifically grounded, adding to the challenge of reifying diagnoses. The future DSM will involve working on the structure and specific disorders, incorporating new disorders and refining existing ones. The focus for the Committee is on both the framework and the specific content of the DSM, ensuring it remains relevant and scientifically sound.

Dr Alpert is chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, neuroscience, and pediatrics at the Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York.

References

1. Oquendo MA, Abi-Dargham A, Alpert JE et al. Initial strategy for the future of the DSM. Am J Psychiatry. 2026.

2. Duerr HA. A new and improved DSM? The American Psychiatric Association shares strategy and roadmap. Psychiatric Times. January n28, 2026. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/a-new-and-improved-dsm-the-american-psychiatric-association-shares-strategy-and-roadmap