The Problem with Disorder: Reclaiming the Criteria

• Maryanne Porter, Visual Communications, University of Delaware

• Katie Leech, Art and Design, University of Delaware

Title: The Problem with Disorder: Reclaiming the Criteria

Author: Maryanne Porter

Word Count: 297

Abstract: What is the problem with disorder and why do we need to reclaim the criteria? This project is built to show how mental illness feels in individuals vs how it is clinically diagnosed. To show how mental illness feels, Porter chose to create visual representations of the mental health diagnoses included in the DSM-5-TR. The DSM-5-TR is “the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the United States” (American Psychiatric Association). These visuals are created from the input of those who have been diagnosed with a mental illness/disorder by a medical professional. They are then placed together into a magazine accompanied by the diagnostic criteria from the DSM-5-TR. To acquire input from individuals diagnosed with a mental illness/disorder Porter decided to create a formal research study that she will host at the University of Delaware in the 2024-25 school year. The study consists of three major components: narrative collages, association questions, and a free write section. The goal of the study is to collect responses from the creative and abstract exercises, then create one image that represents the diagnosis associated. Porter spent most of the summer researching, planning and finalizing how this study would run to make it as accessible as possible for volunteers to participate. Porter has also been working on navigating the Institutional Review Board process to get the proper documents approved for the study. To help promote this project more widely and recruit future volunteers for the research study Porter created a brand to publish this project (and future projects) under: Sparks Knowledge. An Instagram account was created for the brand to attract volunteers towards the study and display Porter’s previously designed imagery. Porter hopes to continue this project until all diagnoses in the DSM-5-TR are accounted for.