A nursing student asks the psychiatric nurse preceptor about the function of the DSM-5 in clinical practice. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the DSM-5?

Rationale: A. The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition) provides a standardized classification system with specific diagnostic criteria used by clinicians to diagnose mental health conditions reliably and consistently. B. Evaluating pharmacologic therapy effectiveness is not the DSM-5’s purpose; that is part of clinical research and treatment planning, not diagnosis. C. The DSM-5 does not prescribe treatment protocols—it is strictly a diagnostic manual. D. While the DSM-5 considers biological and environmental influences, it does not classify disorders based on genetic findings.