Genius Academy Library

Aaron is by all accounts a likable, well-mannered man, but he has an unreasonable fear that interferes with a number of areas of living. He recognizes it is irrational, but he is powerless against it. As the learner observes Aaron explain the issues, they are able to see his anxiety and emotional troubles manifest in his approach to therapy. He is obviously desperate and ashamed.

Carl was abandoned by his mother at age seven and now lives with his grandmother. He was severely impacted by this, but his grandmother actually noticed odd behaviors and actions he enacted even before that. He explains that as young as 4 years old, he was blinking frequently and often made jerky movements with his head or his shoulder. Hoping he would just grow out of it, there was no significant intervention. As he grew older, Carl explains the disturbances have become more significant and include unwanted speech and verbal explosions.

During her therapy session, Sylvia reports she is scared that the socially unacceptable habits she displays are all that others see or think about when they are around her. She explains that she has lost control over her compulsive need to pull hairs out of her head. She is aware of what others think about this behavior and she desperately wants to stop, but she is helpless to do so. As she explains the situation and the development of her condition, viewers observe her actions and behaviors they will use to make a potential diagnosis.

Kevin's anger and inability to deal with criticism has reached a boiling point and he is finally ready for therapy. He presents and explains that he is not always angry, but a few times a week he loses control and becomes violent and confrontational. He has noticed that others tend to fear his outbursts and his condition is severely impacting his relationships. Viewers are tasked with watching Kevin as he explains his situation and the thoughts he has when the anger takes over. In his words and actions, clues about his condition are revealed, all of which can be used to seek out a potential diagnosis.

Stephanie is struggling greatly as she watches her father slowly dying, and it is having a significant impact on her mental health. She believes the stress and the confusion of the situation have caused her to feel strange. She explains she feels like she has stepped outside of herself and is watching things happen to her as if she were someone else. It has began causing issues with many parts of her life and she is displaying other behaviors that are strange or unlike her. The mystery of what is happening to her is revealed throughout the session, as her words and mannerisms provide the viewer with clues to her symptoms. The learner is able to hear her explanation and see her responses, providing context and insight into her condition.

For Alex's whole life, the only thing he truly felt connected to was the game of poker. He felt great joy while playing and his skill at the game made him feel somehow special. When he grows up and decides its time to follow his destiny and become a professional player, he jumps in with both feet. Soon he is in over his head and finds himself getting more reckless and chasing bigger games to try and get back to even. Alex's story is presented by Alex himself directly to the viewer. This gives the learner an opportunity to hear it unfiltered and to observe mannerisms and behaviors that could hold clues to his disorder.

During the review process of the DSM-5, it was found that text used in Criterion A for Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome was being misunderstood by a number of professionals in the field. The offending text was officially removed for the DSM-5-TR, but additional text was included to allow for the spirit of the text to still be represented without including the segment that was unclear.

After repeatedly finding that a small phrase found in the DSM-5 criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder was misleading practitioners, a revision was ordered for DSM-5-TR. The new text should offer more clarity and consistency.

When an entry in the DSM is consistently misinterpreted or misunderstood, it is critical to revise the offending text in the next edition of the manual. WIth Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, the troubling phrase was deemed unnecessary. For the DSM-5-TR, the confusing text was simply removed.