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In a letter published in the February issue of ARCHIVES, Altschuler et al¹ apply the DSM to the biblical hero Samson and suggest that he may have carried the diagnosis of ASPD. Such mechanical use of the DSM, in my opinion, both fails to enhance understanding of the person so diagnosed (and may, in fact, unnecessarily stigmatize him) and trivializes the profession.

The DSM is an instrument that categorizes various psychiatric and behavioral phenomena within a contemporary cultural context for the purpose of establishing guidelines and improving communication among professionals. It does not endeavor to, nor can it, explore motives or dynamics.

Altschuler et al apply the DSM without regard to the mentality and behavioral norms of biblical times. Killing a lion, in a society of warriors and hunters, is mistakenly labeled by them as "cruelty to animals." Similarly, they misunderstand that in such a society, self-praise after vanquishing . . . [Full Text of this Article]