Diagnosing mental disorders: A middle ground between the DSM-5 and the RDoC

Seminar paper from the year 2020 in the subject Philosophy - Theoretical (Realisation, Science, Logic, Language), grade: 1,3, Saarland University, language: English, abstract: How exactly should we define different mental disorders? How should they be treated? And how should mental disorders be classified? This paper aims to answer the last question and analyze the different classification systems DSM-5 and RDoC. Both systems will be introduced, their characteristics will be discussed, and the emergence will be analyzed. Advantages, as well as disadvantages of both positions, will be identified and examined with the ultimate goal to give an assessment on which classification system should be used in which way or if there is some kind of consensus to be found.