There is no guarantee that the draft that is shown on the web site currently would be the final version for the publication. We saw a “surprise ending” when DSM-IV was finally issued in 1994 and much expected diagnoses such as complex PTSD were missing. I am under the impression that the draft of the criterion A for DSM-V is a product of compromises among clinicians of different convictions and orientations. So far, criterion A of DSM-IV does not include “actual or threatened sexual violation” and its new appearance on the draft for DSM-V might reflect views of clinicians who deal with sexual trauma.
You might notice that in the draft, the way 1~4 of criterion A are described was like letters of the law and not easily comprehensible. Probably DSM committee wanted to reduce some ambiguities involved in DSM-IV PTSD criteria and eliminate nontraumatic casual experiences. For example, “exposure through electronic media …” was excluded with a caveat that people should not meet the criterion A if they happen to see some cruel scenes casually on the You-tube, for example.
Thus draft of the criterion A of the PTSD in DSM-V defines more clearly and in detail what the trauma is supposed to be like, and that attempt itself is well meant. However, in my view, there should be still more considerations as to what should be included in the criterion A in DSM-V.
For example, I am not sure why the A criterion of neither DSM-IV or draft of DSM-V include one of the worst trauma; that of having accidentally harmed or killed others. Possibly one of the most traumatic experiences in the combat situation is having pulled the trigger on the citizens inadvertently.
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