Is it time to discard the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in psycho-oncology?

Darren Haywood; Roman Kotov; Robert F Krueger; Aidan G C Wright; Miriam K Forbes; Evan Dauer; Frank D Baughman; Susan L Rossell; Nicolas H Hart

doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216818

Is it time to discard the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in psycho-oncology?

Cancer Lett. 2024 May 1:589:216818. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216818. Epub 2024 Mar 28.

Authors

Darren Haywood¹, Roman Kotov², Robert F Krueger³, Aidan G C Wright⁴, Miriam K Forbes⁵, Evan Dauer⁶, Frank D Baughman⁷, Susan L Rossell⁸, Nicolas H Hart⁹

Affiliations

¹ Human Performance Research Centre, INSIGHT Research Institute, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Mental Health, St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia. Electronic address: darren.haywood@uts.edu.au.
² Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Eisenberg Family Depression Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
⁵ School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁶ Human Performance Research Centre, INSIGHT Research Institute, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Mental Health, St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia.
⁷ School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia.
⁸ Department of Mental Health, St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia; Centre for Mental Health and Brain Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia.
⁹ Human Performance Research Centre, INSIGHT Research Institute, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, NSW, Australia; Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia; Exercise Medicine Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia; Cancer and Palliative Care Outcomes Centre, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.

PMID: 38554804
DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216818

Abstract

The conceptual basis of psychopathology within cancer survivorship is critical, as the chosen conceptualisation informs assessment and explanatory models, as well as interventions and supportive care approaches. The validity of a chosen conceptualisation of psychopathology is therefore paramount for ensuring cancer survivors receive high-quality and efficacious care and support that can be iteratively improved via coordinated research efforts. In this paper, we discuss the traditional diagnostic approach to conceptualising psychopathology within cancer care, including the diagnostic system the 'Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders' (DSM) [1], and the significant issues it presents within cancer survivorship. We detail and discuss how an alternate conceptualisation of psychopathology may enhance both research and practice within psycho-oncology. We ultimately pose, and provide our perspective, on the question "Is it Time to Discard the DSM in Psycho-Oncology?"

Keywords: Cancer; DSM; Diagnosis; Dimensional; HiTOP; Hierarchical; Mental health; Psycho-oncology; Supportive care; Survivorship.

Publication types

Editorial

MeSH terms

Cancer Survivors*
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Humans
Psycho-Oncology*
Psychopathology