[Neurocognitive disorders in DSM-5: a critical review]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Neurology
• Clinical Psychology

Context:

• The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), published in 2013, introduced significant revisions.
• These changes include updates to the classification and diagnostic criteria for neurocognitive disorders compared to the previous DSM-IV-TR.

Purpose:

• To critically review the alterations and adjustments within the DSM-5 concerning neurocognitive disorders.
• To compare the DSM-5 criteria with the DSM-IV-TR and relevant scientific literature.

Summary:

• The DSM-5 aligns better with current clinical practice for neurocognitive disorder differential diagnosis.
• It introduces ten etiological subtypes with criteria based on recent research.
• However, debates persist regarding the terms 'major neurocognitive disorder' and the distinction between 'mild' and 'major' cognitive disorders.

Impact:

• The DSM-5 revisions represent potential progress for clinicians and researchers in diagnosing neurocognitive disorders.
• These advancements necessitate a greater investment in understanding and applying the new diagnostic framework.