Answered By: Gabe Gossett
Last Updated: Apr 10, 2024     Views: 163794

Note: The general guidelines outlined here can be used for older DSM editions as well, including the DSM-IV-TR

You should cite the DSM as a reference book, as directed on page 324 of the APA Manual (7th edition).

The DSM should be cited as having a corporate author: American Psychiatric Association.

Reference list

Print version

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).

Online version

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

In text

Format your in text citation as follows: (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). If quoting, be sure to include the page number(s) for your quote. If you will be citing the APA multiple times in-text you should list the first citation as (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013) and all subsequent entries as (APA, 2013).

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Comments (8)

  1. The correct APA citation is not Washington, DC.

    American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author.
    by Randye on Jan 10, 2019
  2. Randye, thanks for catching the location error.
    by Gabe [Research & Writing Studio] on Jan 28, 2019
  3. Why does the publisher section end with "Author"?
    by Stephen on Jul 28, 2019
  4. @ Stephen: That's a good question. It's because whenever the author is also the publisher APA style says to use the word author in the place of the publisher name to indicate that they are the same. You see this most often when organizations are the authors of reports and publishers too.
    by Gabe [Research & Writing Studio] on Jul 31, 2019
  5. How does one cite all editions of the DSM?
    by Bernadette on May 31, 2020
  6. Hi, Bernadette! It's recommended that when citing the DSM, you point to a specific edition, as there can sometimes be pretty significant changes between editions. Would you mind telling me some of the context of your project? Maybe that would help me find a more concrete answer. Feel free to email me at sleeh@wwu.edu.
    by Heather [Western Libraries] on Jun 03, 2020
  7. How do I cite the DSM-VI? Managed to find a 4th edition copy online. Is it just this: American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. (4th ed.). Or do I need to add Author to it?
    by Saskia on Apr 04, 2021
  8. @Saskia: Good question. When citing the DSM, the author is the American Psychiatric Association. Here is an example: Reference entry: American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Parenthetical in-text citation: (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) For more info on citing the DSM, visit APAStyle.org: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/diagnostic-manual-references
    by Emily [Western Libraries] on Apr 09, 2021

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