The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is a classification of mental disorders based on criteria designed to facilitate and make diagnosis more reliable. Over the past sixty years, with successive editions, this manual has become a standard reference for clinical practice in mental health.

Today, we present to our esteemed readers this summary of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which was issued by the American Psychiatric Association in May 2013.

Readers interested in psychiatry know that understanding this manual is a cornerstone for anyone who wishes to practice psychiatry and ensure that their practice is consistent with contemporary knowledge, adhering to the fundamental concepts established to make the diagnosis and classification of mental disorders the means and method that enable the medical community to communicate and understand each other, and to make the treatment of mental disorders based, as much as possible, on an accurate diagnostic basis. The goal of translating and compiling this summary, prepared by Dr. Anwar Al Hammadi, was to convey the required information in a concise manner, without compromising accuracy and clarity. After multiple and careful reviews of the fifth manual, and after careful consideration of the key points that should be included in this edition, it was decided to adopt the criteria in a fundamental and literal manner. An important chapter was also added regarding the changes that occurred in the manual when it transitioned from the fourth edition to the fifth. An appendix was also added that includes the numerical classification of mental disorders according to the tenth international classification of diseases. In the manual, simple, straightforward language was used when translating the criteria, with the aim of making the criteria for mental disorders clear and easy to use in the various contexts where they are needed, without deviating from the true meaning of the translation. The principles upon which the fifth manual was based were also relied upon when translating it into Arabic, and the term gender was adopted, which here refers to the role an individual plays in society...

Based on the above, this guide is an important tool for clinicians, a basic resource for students and practitioners, and a reference for researchers in this field from various perspectives (clinical practice, biological, psychological systems, cognitive behavioral, personality and family). The information contained in the guide is valuable to all professionals involved in various aspects of mental health care, including psychiatrists, other physicians, psychologists, social workers, nurses, counselors, forensic and legal specialists, occupational therapists and rehabilitation professionals, and other health professionals.

The guide consists of several sections, each of which highlights several conditions under the following headings: 1- Classification of Mental Disorders, 2- Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders, 3- Bipolar and Related Disorders, 4- Depressive Disorders, 5- Anxiety Disorders, 6- Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 7- Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders, 8- Dissociative Disorders, 9- Somatic Symptoms and Related Disorders, 10- Feeding and Eating Disorders, 11- Elimination Disorders, 12- Sleep and Wakefulness Disorders... and other related headings.