title: [Structural changes in DSM-5: the beginning of a transformation?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The dsm-5 received both praise and criticism following its publication in May 2013. Some blamed the dsm classification system for the unsatisfactory diagnostic system within psychiatry. Over the last 30 years or so there have been no major breakthroughs in our field and there has been no reduction in the number of mental health problems in Western society. It is time for a change; the question is whether DSM-5 will succeed in bringing about this change.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To update and analyse the structural, diagnosis-independent changes that have been incorporated in DSM-5.
  
  
  METHODS
  We discuss the changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most important structural, diagnosis-independent changes include: 1. the separate classification of disorders that begin in childhood from those that begin in adolescence has been abolished; 2. the multi-axial system has disappeared; 3. the approach has become more dimensional, which allows for the assessment of the severity of a disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the DSM-5 there are clear signs that a transformation of our psychiatric assessment system has begun; this can only be seen as a positive development, but is probably just the tip of the iceberg. Further changes are likely to occur, some in the near future, others in the long term.
authors.forename: T A M J
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: van Amelsvoort
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Den Eede
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goethals
authors.forename: H J C
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: van Marle
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Beekman
mesh_terms: D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index