DSM IV International Edition

[JackD]

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I am trying to buy textbooks for this upcoming semester and I need a DSM IV. Typically when I buy textbooks, I go for the international editions, which are identical versions of the books sold in Canada and England but for a fraction of the cost as the U.S. versions. Page numbers and content are the same, the covers are just different.

I did find an international edition of the DSM, which would be identical to the version that I would buy at the university bookstore but it is only like $25. However, unlike a normal textbook, it seems like some people would not be cool with me using that copy of the DSM, even if the content is identical.

So, do you think i should save some money and buy an international edition or pony up the exta $50 and get the U.S. edition?

 

[erg923]

If the content is the same, what the difference between the 2? If its the same, whats the probem? Why would anyone care where you bought the book?

 

[HenryHall]

If the content is the same, what the difference between the 2? If its the same, whats the probem? Why would anyone care where you bought the book?

To answer it directly, the difference is a matter of law.

It may very well be that malpractice insurers require the use of the U.S. Edition. If no possibility of any professional liability attaches to either student or to the person supervising then there is no issue that I can see.

Attempts to scare people off the importation of International Editions are just that - scaremongering. The vendor might possibly have contractual liability, the buyer is in the clear. But that doesn't mean that just because you have the book your malpractice insurer will honor claims arising out of the use of it, even if it is verbatim.

 

[erg923]

well this is for an undergrad class im pretty sure, so i thuink he will be just fine...🙂

 

[6SAnthony]

I bought the mini version of it (and am really glad since V is coming out in a year or so). Check behavenet.com, they have all the diagnostic criteria for every disorder. (it is a really useful site).

A

 

[JackD]

well this is for an undergrad class im pretty sure, so i thuink he will be just fine...🙂

No, i am a grad student these days. I am moving up in the world.

I bought the mini version of it

Is it a full version? I have seen small ones but they only contained the criteria for the disorders and no other info.

Check behavenet.com

I did find that sight about a year ago but again, mostly just criteria, which isn't all that helpful. I actually did download a pdf of the DSM awhile ago because i wanted to see what it was actually like but that is hardly useful for school. Not too portable.

 

[cara susanna]

I guess I figure when it's for something you're going to be using a lot, it's worth spending a little extra money. I mean, if it's a book you're reading for Intro to Anthro or something, sure, buy it international and used, but when you're a clinical psych student I think the DSM is something of which you're going to appreciate having a copy you know is good--even if it costs a little more.

 

[JackD]

I guess I figure when it's for something you're going to be using a lot, it's worth spending a little extra money. I mean, if it's a book you're reading for Intro to Anthro or something, sure, buy it international and used, but when you're a clinical psych student I think the DSM is something of which you're going to appreciate having a copy you know is good--even if it costs a little more.

Good point. Although it is kind of depressing to buy this thing and get trained on it, when a new version is coming out in three years (i don't think it comes out next year). Lets just hope it is similar enough to the DSM IV, so that all of the training i am about to go through isn't for naught.

 

[erg923]

Well, hopefully you're not being trained via a book. Im sure we will all adapt to the changes, assuming you havent been taught to be a slave to it. I think learning and conducting SCIDs is really good for geting to know the criteria and for learning how to truley assess for each one. Getting familair with the DSM in this interview format really helps young clincians to not be slaves to it by developing clinical judgement skills. However, unless you are involved in large research projects and/or clinical trials research, many grad students dont get much experience with it. If you ever have the opportunity though, I would highly recommed it. It daunting at first, but after about the first ten or so, its starts to go pretty smooth.

DSM-V's goals are lofty, but seem unreaslistic to me. Allan Francis has written about this extensively, as has Spitzer. Its due out in 2012.

 

[cara susanna]

Yeah, I'm not convinced it will be finished in 2012.

My abnormal prof refused to use the DSM to teach us because he said you could train a monkey to learn it. 😉

 

[HenryHall]

I guess I figure when it's for something you're going to be using a lot, it's worth spending a little extra money. I mean, if it's a book you're reading for Intro to Anthro or something, sure, buy it international and used, but when you're a clinical psych student I think the DSM is something of which you're going to appreciate having a copy you know is good--even if it costs a little more.

"Know is good"?

There must be some misunderstanding. The International Edition is verbatim - word for word identical other than the title page. From a psychology perspective they must be equally good because they are identical.

What is different is the legal standard.

It comes down to this, if one is practicing (in any way, and on real people) then one needs the locally authorized edition (USA edition in the USA) to protect oneself as a matter of law in today's litigious society.

There is an old saw in law "You can't be slandered by a Billingsgate porter".

 

[cara susanna]

Well, that's what I meant by "know is good." I honestly don't know enough about international copies of books to make a judgment otherwise.

 

[Quynh2007]

I am trying to buy textbooks for this upcoming semester and I need a DSM IV. Typically when I buy textbooks, I go for the international editions, which are identical versions of the books sold in Canada and England but for a fraction of the cost as the U.S. versions. Page numbers and content are the same, the covers are just different.

I did find an international edition of the DSM, which would be identical to the version that I would buy at the university bookstore but it is only like $25. However, unlike a normal textbook, it seems like some people would not be cool with me using that copy of the DSM, even if the content is identical.

So, do you think i should save some money and buy an international edition or pony up the exta $50 and get the U.S. edition?

I got the US version for about $10 more. If you just want to wait it out until DSM-V, I'm sure your school library's got an electronic copy you can access. I know mine does.