The following proposal was approved by the DSM Steering Committee and is being posted for a 45-day public comment period.

Comment Period Opens: April 4, 2022

Comment Period Closes: May 19, 2022

Replacing the Term “Commit Suicide”

Description of Proposed Change:

The proposed change is to replace the use of the term “commit suicide” with less stigmatizing language in the few places where the term still exists in DSM-5-TR as well as the DSM-5 Online Assessment Measures.

Background to the Proposal:

The field of suicide research and prevention has long advocated for the de-stigmatization of suicide and recommended the omission of the phrase “commit suicide” because of its negative connotation. Specifically, the phrase “commit suicide” has become associated with the notion that there is something culpable associated with the behavior of ending one's life, for which the person who ends their life bears some responsibility. The DSM Steering Committee recommends the proposed modifications:

• Major Depressive Disorder – Criterion A.9
  • Original: “Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.”
  • Proposed: “Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, a specific suicide plan, or a suicide attempt"
• Bipolar I: Major Depressive Episode, Criterion A9
  • Original: “Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.”
  • Proposed: “Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, a specific suicide plan, or a suicide attempt”
• Bipolar II: Major Depressive Episode, Criterion A9
  • Original: “Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.”
  • Proposed: “Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, a specific suicide plan, or a suicide attempt”
• Bipolar Specifiers, Manic or hypomanic episode, with mixed features: Criterion A6
  • Original: “Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.”
  • Proposed: “Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, a specific suicide plan, or a suicide attempt”
• Depressive Episodes With Short-Duration Hypomania (Section III): Criterion A9
  • Original: “Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.”
  • Proposed: “Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, a specific suicide plan, or a suicide attempt”
• DSM-5-TR Parent/Guardian-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure—Child Age 6–17
  • Original: “24. In the past TWO (2) WEEKS, has he/she talked about wanting to kill himself/herself or about wanting to commit suicide?”
  • Proposed: “24. In the past TWO (2) WEEKS, has he/she talked about wanting to kill himself/herself or about wanting to die by suicide?”
• DSM-5-TR Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure— Child Age 11–17
  • Original: “24. In the last 2 weeks, have you thought about killing yourself or committing suicide?”
  • Proposed: “24. In the last 2 weeks, have you thought about killing yourself or dying by suicide?”