 | |
| Author | Sally Bedell Smith |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Biography |
| Publisher | Times Books |
Publication date | 1999 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 320 |
| ISBN | 0-8129-3030-4 |
Diana in Search of Herself: Portrait of a Troubled Princess is one of the books about Diana, Princess of Wales. The book was written by best-selling author Sally Bedell Smith and was published by the Times Books in 1999. [1] [2] The book is the first authoritative biography of the Princess. [3]
The 320-page book focuses on the troubled life of Princess Diana. [2] [4] Smith interviewed nearly 150 people whose reports are used in the book to narrate the life of the Princess. [5] These people were mainly Diana's intimates, including British tabloid journalists. [6] The book also featured 32 pages of unseen photographs of the Princess. [7]
The most significant claim made in the book is that the Princess had suffered from borderline personality disorder. [2] [8] It also claimed that she could not manage her serious eating disorder and had difficulty sustaining relationships. [9]
The book was included in the best seller lists of the following: The New York Times Book Review , The Washington Post , The Wall Street Journal , USA Today Top 50 , The Boston Globe , Los Angeles Times , Newsday , Barnes & Noble and Publishers Weekly . [10]
Linda L. Richards of the January Magazine stated that the book provides an unbiased and balanced portrait of the Princess. [4] [11] In a similar vein, the Newsweek review of the book indicated "Smith has done a remarkable job extracting what's genuinely pertinent and interesting about Diana...If you're going to read one Diana book, this should be it." [10]
On the other hand, the author was criticized by Dorothy Packer-Fletcher because of her claim that Diana had been experiencing borderline personality disorder. [12] [13] Packer-Fletcher suggested that in order to establish this diagnosis there should have been a psychiatric examination. [12] She further argued that the author's statement was harmful because it was a "posthumous diagnosis of mental illness". [12]
The book became a bestseller and was also cited as controversial. [13]
Bipolar I disorder is a type of bipolar spectrum disorder characterized by the occurrence of at least one manic episode, with or without mixed or psychotic features. Most people also, at other times, have one or more depressive episodes. Typically, these manic episodes can last at least 7 days for most of each day to the extent that the individual may need medical attention. Also, the depressive episodes will be approximately 2 weeks long.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is a publication by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) for the classification of mental disorders using a common language and standard criteria. It is the main book for the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders in the United States and Australia, while in other countries it may be used in conjunction with other documents. The DSM-5 is considered one of the principal guides of psychiatry, along with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders (CCMD), and the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual. However, not all providers rely on the DSM-5 as a guide, since the ICD's mental disorder diagnoses are used around the world and scientific studies often measure changes in symptom scale scores rather than changes in DSM-5 criteria to determine the real-world effects of mental health interventions.
Diana, Princess of Wales was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of Charles III and mother of Princes William and Harry. Her activism and glamour made her an international icon, and earned her enduring popularity.
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The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), is the 2013 update to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the taxonomic and diagnostic tool published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). In 2022, a revised version (DSM-5-TR) was published. In the United States, the DSM serves as the principal authority for psychiatric diagnoses. Treatment recommendations, as well as payment by health care providers, are often determined by DSM classifications, so the appearance of a new version has practical importance. However, not all providers rely on the DSM-5 for planning treatment as the ICD's mental disorder diagnoses are used around the world and scientific studies often measure changes in symptom scale scores rather than changes in DSM-5 criteria to determine the real-world effects of mental health interventions. The DSM-5 is the only DSM to use an Arabic numeral instead of a Roman numeral in its title, as well as the only living document version of a DSM.
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