The DSM-5 is the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association. It sets out the standard diagnostic criteria clinicians use for mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions, including ADHD and autism spectrum disorder.
Australian psychiatrists, paediatricians and psychologists align their assessments with DSM-5 criteria. When a glossary entry or clinic describes an assessment as DSM-5 aligned, it means the evaluation measures symptoms against these internationally recognised criteria rather than informal checklists.