A Critique of the DSM-5 Field Trials

This article provides an overview and critique of the field trials for the current revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The purpose of the DSM-5 field trials was to evaluate the use, feasibility, safety, reliability, and validity of the DSM-5 proposals. In this article, the procedures for evaluating these properties of the DSM-5 are reviewed, and several concerns-such as delays, disorganization, missed deadlines, field trial cancelations, lack of adequate validity testing, and high clinician attrition rates-and their likely impact on the field trial results are presented.