DSM-V and the definitions: time to get it right.

Over the decades, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) [1] has made very important contributions to the mental health field in the classification of mental illness. However, as the manual is updated, some members of the American Psychiatric Association DSM-V Committee believe the word “addiction” is still too stigmatizing and argue that the term “dependence” should remain [2]. In our opinion, perpetuating this ambiguity is in no one’s best interest. Much in the same way as we in addiction treatment hope our patients will come to see things “the way they are, not the way they wish they were,” the so-called “Golden Moment” [3], we would encourage the DSM-V committee to approach this unique situation as a “golden opportunity” to restore the term “addiction” to its rightful place in the medical lexicon.