The DSM-5: Tons of Paper and Ink

This job was so big that it took 2 printing companies to get it done. 150,000 copies of the softcover book. 31,000 copies of the hardcover book. 50,000 copies of the Desk Reference (the mini version). It took 11-and-a-half truckloads of paper from the mill weighing over 12,000 pounds. And then they still needed 5,000 pounds of ink!

Think of how many mechanics, chemists, and artists it took to avoid scratches and smears, to have the proper ink density, to have every page number line up precisely, and to have every page in it’s proper place. But, their craftsmanship allowed psychiatrists around the world to hold and review the DSM-5 at the 2013 American Psychiatric Association meeting.

And yes, for those of you who are asking… They are planning a digital version. Coming soon.

By Dr. Terra Caudill, MD, MS