The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) is currently in its fourth edition. This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is revised from time-to-time. The DSM-IV is the official set of diagnostic criteria for mental disorders in the United States. Its is also known as DSM4, DSM-4, DSMIV, DSM3R, DSM-3-R.



The purpose of the decision trees in DSM4 is to aid the clinician in understanding the organization and hierarchical structure of the DSM-IV Classification. Each decision tree starts with a set of clinical features. When one of these features is a prominent part of the presenting clinical picture, the clinician can follow the series of questions to rule in or rule out various disorders. Note that the questions are only approximations of the diagnostic criteria and are not meant to replace them.

Chronic Depression

dramatic degree of progress in public understanding. Yet even amid this promising trend, the survey sheds light on the

difficulties faced by millions of people striving to manage this sometimes chronic, life-long illness.

The NMHA survey shows a major shift in public opinion in the last decade about the cause of depression. A majority (55 percent) of

those polled who have never been diagnosed with depression symptoms understand depression is a disease, and not ?a state of mind

that a person can snap out of.? In 1991, only 38 percent recognized depression as an illness.

The survey also sketches a troubling portrait of the socio-economic lives of some people with depression symptoms. Survey respondents

with depression symptoms reported higher levels of unemployment and divorce than respondents who don't have the disorder.

Tips to Reduce Depression

While war and poor economic conditions begin to affect people all over the world, more and more people suffer with depression. The more we focus on news events and the business climate, the more we are depressed. Whatever the reason you feel is the cause of your depression, the following five simple tips guarantee you reduce it significantly.

1. Do not read newspapers.

Newspapers publish negative stories most of the time. Even in peaceful periods, newspapers will find the worst in humanity and place negative stories on display in order to promote sales and subscribers. Stories focused on War, rebellion, death, destruction, doom and despair abound in the newspapers.

2. Turn off your television.

Watching and listening about the horrible economy and the losses associated with War will add to depression. In fact, you guarantee the feeling of helplessness. Helplessness allows depression to nurture. If you really need to watch or listen to these kinds of news stories, promise yourself you will bury yourself in the documentaries that are sure to follow in the next 5 or 10 years. A way you can eliminate most of the negative input to your brain is by setting it aside for a date somewhere in the future.