On May 1 the American Psychiatric Association (APA) announced the names of the work group members who will guide the development of fifth edition of APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM-V ), which is scheduled to be published in 2012. The current edition of the manual, DSM-IV-TR, was issued in 2000; it is a text revision of DSM-IV, which was issued in 1994.
More than 120 names were announced, and the list includes world-renowned scientific researchers and clinicians with expertise in neuroscience, biology, genetics, statistics, epidemiology, public health, nursing, pediatrics, and social work. The work group members join 28 previously announced task force members, consisting of chairs of each of the 13 work groups and representatives from the APA Board of Trustees and Assembly and the National Institutes of Health. A list of the 13 work groups and the members' names and biographical information are available at www.psych.org/dsmv.
"A wealth of new research has emerged since 1994, when the current diagnostic criteria were established in DSM-IV, " said David J. Kupfer, M.D., chair of the DSM-V Task Force in a press release about APA's announcement. "The work group members will examine the extent to which this new research warrants modifying the current organization of disorders, descriptions of disorders, and the criteria for diagnosis."
As part of APA's effort to avoid conflicts of interest in the development of DSM-V, the APA Board of Trustees has required that work group and task force members disclose all significant relationships with entities that have an interest in psychiatric diagnoses and treatments. The disclosure for work group members covers the period from 2005 to the present and includes fees received as honoraria or for being on advisory boards; stock or other ownership; patents and royalties; positions as an officer, consultant, or employee; and industry-funded research grants. APA also requested disclosure of uncompensated leadership positions with nonprofit or advocacy organizations that may have an interest in psychiatric diagnoses and treatment. Each member completed a public disclosure form; these are also available at www.psych.org/dsmv.
The APA Board of Trustees is requiring that all work group and task force members abide by a set of established principles (available at www.psych.org/dsmv). For example, each member has agreed that while serving on a work group or task force, his or her total annual income derived from industry sources (excluding unrestricted research grants) will not exceed $10,000 in any calendar year. Work group members will receive no remuneration for their time and efforts on DSM-V activities.
