How to Cite a Diagnostic Manual in APA
- Written by Rebecca Cahill
- Published on 03/21/2026
There are two internally recognized manuals which provide a common language for healthcare professionals to identify symptoms and consider the diagnosis of mental health conditions.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a reference book produced by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) is published by the World Health Organization (WHO). There are several editions of both manuals. The most updates are the DSM-5-TR (text revision) published in 2013, and the ICD-11 adopted in 2019.
If you are citing an earlier version of a diagnostic manual, be sure to locate the correct edition number and year of publication. For both manuals, the organization and publisher are the same, and as such, you will not include the publisher in the reference.
Citing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
The DSM is used by healthcare clinicians and facilities to support individual patients.
| Citation |
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
|
| Structure |
Organization. (date). Title of Manual (edition). DOI
|
International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD)
The ICD is created by the WHO to support national governments support mental health needs.
| Citation |
World Health Organization. (2019). International statistical classification of disease and related health (11th ed.). https://icd.who.int
|
| Structure |
Organization. (date). Title of Manual (edition). URL
|
 |
Be mindful of the use of acronyms for the American Psychiatric Association and American Psychological Association. Both are represented as APA in an abbreviated form. When adding the edition number after the abbreviation for the diagnostic manual, be sure to use a hyphen and not a dash. |
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Rebecca Cahill
Rebecca Cahill is an assistant principal in the U.S. who works with students across diverse educational disciplines, providing guidance in research, academic writing, and citation. She supports learners at all levels, from young adults beginning with research skills to adults pursuing advanced degrees.