What handbook is standard for making a psychiatric diagnosis?

The DSM-5, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, is the standard manual used for making psychiatric diagnoses. It provides clinicians with a comprehensive framework for identifying and classifying mental disorders based on established criteria. The DSM-5 outlines specific diagnostic criteria for each disorder, allowing for consistency and reliability in diagnoses across different practitioners and settings.

This manual is widely recognized and utilized within the field of psychiatry, psychology, and other mental health professions. It also facilitates communication among healthcare providers regarding mental health conditions, which is crucial for treatment planning and research. The updates and revisions in the DSM-5 reflect current scientific understanding and clinical practices, ensuring it remains a relevant resource in the field.

Other manuals and guides, such as ICD-10, serve important roles in the medical community, specifically regarding billing and coding or broad classifications of health conditions, but the DSM-5 remains the primary source for psychiatric diagnoses, making it the correct answer in this context.