Who doesn’t enjoy a used book sale? …especially when the used books are FREE!
A professor in my department was giving away some old books and journals so I went down to take a look and I scored myself a free copy of the DSM-II (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Second Edition), published in 1968. Let me tell you, the 119 page publication is a far cry from my 943 page DSM-IV-TR (the current edition, published in 2000). Interestingly, the book is bound by that black, plastic binding. It’s not at all fancy… and it seems that there are a whole lot more named mental disorders than there were in 1968. I wonder how far psychiatry will advance in the next 37 years.
Yeah take a look at some of the diagnosis in that thing too… you’ll be amazed. Homosexuality is one, I think that was the version with dyslexia and autism as well. Good thing some of those have changed.
Comment by Robert — July 23, 2005 @ 8:22 am
Actually, if that professor has any other extra DSM-II’s lying around or of you are interested in selling the one you have, please feel free to email me. I’ve been trying to find it for a while and I’ve been hard-pressed to find anyone vending them.
Good find. And yes, Robert, homosexuality is a mental disorder in the DSM-II although they had it changed in 1973. It is one of the reasons I’m looking for it; piece of queer history and whatnot. ^^
Thanks.
~me
Comment by A rare book seeker — August 14, 2005 @ 12:25 am