Within the DSM-IV "Introduction" (pg xxiii) is the following cautionary instructions:

"Use of DSM-IV in Forensic Settings: When the DSM-IV catagories, criteria, and textual descriptions are employed for forensic purposes, there are significant risks that diagnostic information will be misused or misunderstood. These dangers arise because of the imperfect fit between the questions of ultimate concern to the law and the information contained in the clinical diagnosis. In most situations, the clinical diagnosis of the DSM-IV mental disorder is not sufficient to establish the existence for legal purposes of a "mental disorder," "mental disability," "mental disease," or "mental defect." In determining whether an individual meets a specified legal standard (e.g. for competence, criminal responsibility, or disability), additional information is usually required beyond that contained in the DSM-IV diagnosis. This might include information about the individual's functional impairments and how these impairments affect the particular abilities in question. It is precisely because impairments, abilities, and disabilities vary widely within each diagnostic category that assignment of a particular diagnosis does not imply a specific level of impairment or disability. ....."

Severity and Course Specifiers (pg 2):
A DSM-IV diagnosis is usually applied to the individual`s current presentation and is not typically used to denote previous diagnoses from which the individual has recovered. The following specifier indicating severity and course may be listed after the diagnosis: Mild, Moderate, Severe, In Partial Remission, In Full Remission, and Prior History.

The specifiers Mild, Moderate, and Severe should be used only when the full criteria for the disorder ARE CURRENTLY MET. In deciding whether the presentation should be described as mild, moderate, or severe. the clinician should take into account the number and intensity of the signs and symptoms of the disorder and any resulting impairment in occupational or social functioning For the majority of disorders, the following guidelines may be used:

Mild. Few, if any, symptoms in excess of those required to make the diagnosis are present, and symptoms result in no more than minor impairment in social or occupational functioning.

Moderate. Symptoms or functional impairment between - "mild" and "severe" are present.

Severe. Many symptoms in excess of those required to make the diagnosis, or several symptoms that are particularly severe. are present, or the symptoms result in marked impairment in social or occupational functioning.

In Partial remission. The full criteria for the disorder were previously met but currently only some of the symptoms or signs of the disorder remain.

In Full Remission. There are no longer any symptoms or signs df the disorder, but it is still clinically relevant to note the disorder-for example, in an individual with previous episodes of Bipolar Disorder who has been symptom free on lithium for the past 3 years. After a period of tune in full remission, the clinician may judge the individual to be recovered and, therefore, would no longer code the disorder as a current diagnosis. The differentiation of in Full Remission from recovered requires consideration of many factors, including the characteristic course of the disorder, the length of time since the last period of disturbance, the total duration of the disturbance, and the need for continued evaluation or prophylactic treatment

Prior History. For some purposes, it may be useful to note a history of the criteria having been met for a disorder even when the individual is considered to be recovered from it. Such past diagnoses of mental disorder would be indicated by using the specifer Prior History (e.g., Separation Anxiety Disorder, Prior History, for an individual with a history of Separation Anxiety Disorder who has no current disorder or who currently meets criteria for Panic Disorder).