In 1967, After the DSM Had Been in Use for 15

question 242

Essay

In 1967, after the DSM had been in use for 15 years, Abraham Kaplan wrote that "If you give a small boy a hammer, it will turn out that everything he runs into needs pounding." How does this quote relate to the dangers of overdiagnosis? The analogy of a boy with a hammer seems fitting given the popularity of the ADHD diagnosis among young boys. Use ADHD to illustrate the issue of overdiagnosis.

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Definitions:

Mollusks

A large phylum of invertebrate animals, including species like snails, clams, and squids, characterized by a soft body and, in many cases, a calcium carbonate shell.

Echinoderms

Invertebrates with a water–vascular system, and hardened plates and spines in the skin or body.

Annelids

A phylum of invertebrate worms characterized by segmented bodies and often found in moist environments; includes earthworms, leeches, and polychaetes.

Arthropods

represent the largest phylum of animals, including insects, arachnids, and crustaceans, characterized by exoskeletons and segmented bodies.