The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is widely used by healthcare providers, across disciplines, as a common way to understand and codify mental health disorders.1,2 The APA’s Board of Trustees approved the creation of a Future DSM Strategic Committee in March 2024. The Committee has been tasked with monitoring scientific developments in the field that can impact on the structure, definition, and criteria of disorders in DSM. The Committee is also entrusted with thinking of strategies for DSM to incorporate knowledge in the field as it advances and grows.
In this session, some of the important topics that need to be taken into consideration in the future DSM will be addressed, including the impact of Social Determinants of Mental Health (SDoMH), including intersectionality, on mental disorders. The session will highlight the importance of addressing factors such as ethnoracial grouping, sex and gender, patient’s living situation, exposure to advantages and disadvantages over the life course and their implications for diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.4-6
The second topic will examine the importance of quality of life (QoL) and functioning in individuals with mental disorders. The presentation will also highlight how QoL and functioning can provide valuable insight into the patient’s perspective on how their disease impacts their ability to carry out important activities as well as key indicators for treatment progress toward patient-centered recovery goals.7,8
The session will highlight the progress of each subcommittee and plans for the next steps in the development of a roadmap for the future DSM.
Format
Recorded webinar, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity.
This presentation was recorded at the 2025 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.
Learning Objectives
- Highlight the importance of social determinants of mental health and how to include them in the DSM
- Highlight the importance of quality-of-life measures in the future DSM
- Highlight the importance of measuring functioning and how to emphasize it in the future DSM
Target Audience
Medical Students, Residents/Fellows, Psychiatrists
Estimated Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 1.5 hours
Begin Date: February 1, 2026
End Date: February 1, 2029
How to Earn Credit
Participants who wish to earn 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™ or a certificate of participation may do so by completing all sections of the course including the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the event date and hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, the American Psychiatric Association is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The APA designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Program Presenters
- Maria Oquendo, M.D., Ph.D.
- Milton Wainberg, M.D.
- Karen Glaze Drexler, M.D.
- Diana Clarke, Ph.D.
Program Planners
- Vishal Madaan, MD. Chief of Education and Deputy Medical Director, APA.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
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Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
- The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
- Internet Explorer 11+
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Optimal System Configuration:
- Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
- Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
- Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
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