background The diagnosis plays a central role in medicine. If the validity of a diagnosis is in doubt, there will be doubt with regard to the existence of illness, the legitimacy of illness-behavior in the patient and the necessity of medical treatment. In this paper we discuss the changes made in DSM-5, testing whether they will contribute to a better position of our patients and of psychiatry. aim Critical appraisal of the changes made in dsm-5 and their potential impact on the position of our patients and of psychiatry. method Critical discussion. resultsDSM-5 has seen improvements in a series of essential areas, which will indeed benefit our patients. However, the most fundamental problems inherent in a system that aims to classify symptoms, disregarding their etiology, have not been solved. conclusion Given our infrastructure, we are well positioned to further develop and standardise appropriate medical specialty psychiatric diagnosis. This is more fruitful than ongoing criticism of dsm.