CPB Certified Professional Biller Certification Practice Exam

What does DSM stand for in the context of mental health?

1. Disability Services Manual

2. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

3. Data Security Measures

4. Direct Service Model

The correct answer is: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

The term DSM stands for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, which is a key resource in the field of mental health. This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and serves as a comprehensive classification system for mental disorders. It provides standard criteria for the diagnosis of mental health conditions, allowing healthcare providers to consistently communicate about patients and issues of mental health. The DSM covers various mental health disorders, offering detailed descriptions, diagnostic criteria, and relevant statistics that help professionals in diagnoses and treatment plans. It is regularly updated to reflect new research findings and changes in the understanding of mental health, with the most recent edition being the DSM-5, released in 2013. While other abbreviations can represent different frameworks or guidelines within healthcare or related fields, none of those alternatives specifically apply to the established classification and diagnostic standards that the DSM provides. This underscores the importance of the DSM in mental health practices, particularly in creating a common language for clinicians and researchers.