One oft-cited criticism of the DSM-IV is that many illnesses seem to occur at the same time; that is,a specific set of symptoms could qualify an individual for more than one diagnosis.This phenomenon is called
A)co-incidence.
B)dual diagnosis.
C)prevalence.
D)comorbidity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phenomenon described in the question is known as comorbidity, which refers to the occurrence of two or more disorders in a single individual. This is a common issue with the DSM-IV and one that has been addressed in newer versions of the DSM. Co-incidence is not a term used in the context of psychiatric diagnoses, while dual diagnosis refers specifically to the presence of both substance abuse and mental illness in an individual. Prevalence refers to the proportion of individuals in a population who have a particular condition, and is not directly related to the issue described in the question.

One Oft-Cited Criticism of the DSM-IV Is That Many Illnesses