Criticisms of the DSM-5 working groupThis fifth revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM will be the standard classification of mental disorders (Nauert, 2011) . Mental health and other health professionals will use this standard in their diagnoses and research. The American Psychiatric Association has released a draft of proposed changes after a decade of review and revision by the Association. Allen Frances, president and editor-in-chief of the DSM IV, and Robert Spitzer, editor-in-chief of the DSM III, have expressed objections to the working group conducting the proposed reviews and revisions. The current president is David Kupfer and the vice president is Darrel Regier (Nauert; Collier, 2010). The DSM-5 Scientific Review Working Group is responsible for providing quality evidence to support proposed revisions (Spitzer & Frances, 2010). The objections or problems related to his work are the maintenance of secrecy, the envisaged paradigm shift and the composition of the group, the charge, the method and the schedule. Dr. Allen Frances' editorials have denounced the task force's lack of transparency in the methods, progress, timelines, and products it uses (Collier, 2010). Dr. Robert Spitzer raised the same objection to the lack of transparency, particularly when he was denied minutes of a meeting in 2008. Dr. Spitzer argued that this lack of openness hinders the free flow of information between the working group and external experts necessary for appropriate review (Collier). These were in response to the announcement made by that its deliberations and reports would be confidential and that only its existence would remain public. Composition of the working group and ChargeDr. Frances (2010) lamented the group's claim that it would be placed in the middle of paper......SM-5/24046Nauert, R, editor (2011). Revised Psychiatric Diagnostic Manual, DSM-V. Psych Central: American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved January 26, 2011, from http://psychcentralcom/news/2010/02/11/revised-psychiatric-diagnosis-manual-dsm-v/11366.htmlOldham, J, editor (2010). DSM-5: a work in progress. Vol 16 #6 Journal of PsychiatricPractice: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. Retrieved January 26, 2011 from http://journals.lww.com/practicalpsychiatry/Fulltext/2010/1100/DSM_5_A_Work_in_Prorgress_1_aspxSpitzer, R. and Frances, A. (2010 ). DSM 5 distressed. Letter to the Board of Directors of the American Psychiatric Association. Psychology Today: Sussex Publishers LLC. Retrieved January 26, 2011 from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dsm5-in-distress/2010/2/spitzerfrances-letter-apa-trustees