Top 20 DSM-5-TR Disorders: A Prevalence Ranking | 2025
Key Points
- Alcohol use disorder is the most prevalent DSM-5-TR diagnosis, affecting about 29.1% of people over their lifetime.
- Specific phobia and major depressive disorder follow, each impacting around 19-21% of individuals.
- Social anxiety disorder and drug use disorders are also common, with prevalence rates of 12.1% and 10.4%, respectively.
- Less common diagnoses like schizophrenia affect about 0.7% of the population.
Prevalence Overview
The DSM-5-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, Text Revision) lists various mental health diagnoses, and their prevalence varies widely. Below is a ranking of the most common diagnoses based on lifetime prevalence rates, which show how many people will experience these conditions at some point in their lives. These rates are estimates and can differ by region, age, and gender.
Ranking from Highest to Lowest Prevalence
Here’s the list of DSM-5-TR disorders ranked by lifetime prevalence, from most to least common:
- Alcohol Use Disorder: 29.1%
- Major Depressive Disorder: 20.6%
- Specific Phobia: 19.3%
- Social Anxiety Disorder: 12.1%
- Any Drug Use Disorder: 10.4%
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: 6.8%
- Borderline Personality Disorder: 5.9%
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder: 5.7%
- Panic Disorder: 4.7%
- Agoraphobia: 4%
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (adult): 2.8%
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: 2.5%
- Binge-Eating Disorder: 2.5%
- Antisocial Personality Disorder: 2.5%
- Bipolar Disorder: 2.1%
- Bulimia Nervosa: 1.5%
- Autism Spectrum Disorder: 1.5%
- Schizophrenia: 0.7%
- Anorexia Nervosa: 0.75%
- Dissociative Identity Disorder: 0.5%
Surprising Prevalence
It’s notable that alcohol use disorder has the highest prevalence at 29.1%, higher than major depressive disorder, reflecting significant public health challenges, especially given its inclusion of both abuse and dependence in DSM-5-TR criteria.
Detailed Survey Note on Prevalence of DSM-5-TR Diagnoses
This survey note provides a comprehensive analysis of the prevalence data for diagnoses listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), ranked from most to least prevalent. The analysis is based on epidemiological studies, national surveys, and meta-analyses, focusing on lifetime prevalence rates to capture the proportion of individuals who will experience each disorder at some point in their lives. The data primarily reflects U.S. populations but includes global estimates where relevant, acknowledging variations by region, age, and gender.
Methodology and Data Sources
The prevalence estimates were derived from a combination of sources, including the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) National Comorbidity Survey – NCS Publications, the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC-III) Epidemiology of DSM-5 Drug Use Disorder, and specific studies using DSM-5 criteria, such as those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for autism spectrum disorder. The NCS-R, conducted from 2001-2003, used DSM-IV criteria, but adjustments were made based on studies comparing DSM-IV and DSM-5 prevalence, noting minimal changes for many disorders. The DSM-5-TR, published in 2022, includes updated text and prevalence data, which were cross-referenced with recent literature.
Given the complexity, the analysis involved piecing together data from multiple sources due to the lack of a single comprehensive table for all DSM-5-TR diagnoses. The focus was on lifetime prevalence, as it provides a broader view of disorder commonality, though 12-month prevalence was considered for substance use disorders where lifetime data was less consistent.
Ranking of DSM-5-TR Diagnoses by Prevalence
The following table ranks the most prevalent diagnoses, starting with the highest lifetime prevalence, based on available data. Note that some disorders, especially less common ones, have approximate ranges due to limited specific studies.
| Rank | Diagnosis | Lifetime Prevalence (%) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alcohol Use Disorder | 29.1 | Combines abuse and dependence; higher in men (36.0%) than women (16.9%) from NESARC-III. |
| 2 | Major Depressive Disorder | 20.6 | NCS-R reports 16.6%, significant impact on mood and function, updated to 20.6% in later studies. |
| 3 | Specific Phobia | 19.3 | NCS-R reports 19.3%, common fears like heights or spiders. |
| 4 | Social Anxiety Disorder | 12.1 | NCS-R reports 12.1%, fear in social situations like public speaking. |
| 5 | Any Drug Use Disorder | 10.4 | NESARC-III reports 10.4%, varies by substance (e.g., cannabis, opioids). |
| 6 | Posttraumatic Stress Disorder | 6.8 | NCS-R reports 6.8%, often following trauma like accidents or violence. |
| 7 | Borderline Personality Disorder | 5.9 | NCS-R reports 5.9%, characterized by instability in relationships and emotions. |
| 8 | Generalized Anxiety Disorder | 5.7 | NCS-R reports 5.7%, excessive worry about various life aspects. |
| 9 | Panic Disorder | 4.7 | NCS-R reports 4.7%, known for sudden panic attacks. |
| 10 | Agoraphobia | 4 | Estimated 3-5%, fear of places hard to escape, based on various sources. |
| 11 | Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (adult) | 2.8 | NCS-R reports around 2.8% in adults, persists from childhood. |
| 12 | Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | 2.5 | Estimated 2-3%, repetitive thoughts and behaviors, average taken. |
| 13 | Binge-Eating Disorder | 2.5 | Estimated 2-3%, regular episodes of eating large quantities, average taken. |
| 14 | Antisocial Personality Disorder | 2.5 | Estimated 1-4%, higher in males, average taken for ranking. |
| 15 | Bipolar Disorder | 2.1 | NCS-R reports 2.1% for bipolar I and II, mood swings between mania and depression. |
| 16 | Bulimia Nervosa | 1.5 | Estimated 1-2%, binge eating followed by purging, average taken. |
| 17 | Autism Spectrum Disorder | 1.5 | CDC estimates 1-2% in children, considered lifelong, average taken. |
| 18 | Schizophrenia | 0.7 | Estimated 0.5-1%, severe condition affecting thought and perception, average taken. |
| 19 | Anorexia Nervosa | 0.75 | Estimated 0.5-1%, restrictive eating leading to low body weight, average taken. |
| 20 | Dissociative Identity Disorder | 0.5 | Estimated 0.01-1%, severe dissociative condition, conservative estimate taken. |
Detailed Analysis by Category
The DSM-5-TR organizes diagnoses into categories, and prevalence varies within each. Below is a breakdown by major categories, with specific disorders ranked where data allowed.
- Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: Alcohol use disorder leads with 29.1% lifetime prevalence, reflecting its high public health impact. Any drug use disorder follows at 10.4%, varying by substance (e.g., cannabis, opioids). The NESARC-III reported challenges in aggregating these, with initial confusion over whether “any substance use disorder” included alcohol, resolved by noting separate high prevalence for alcohol.
- Anxiety Disorders: Specific phobia (19.3%) and social anxiety disorder (12.1%) are highly prevalent, per NCS-R, with generalized anxiety disorder (5.7%), panic disorder (4.7%), and agoraphobia (4%) less common but still significant. These reflect fears and worries impacting daily life.
- Depressive Disorders: Major depressive disorder (20.6%) is prominent, with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) estimated at 2-3%, reflecting chronic low mood. The DSM-5-TR notes slight variations due to criteria changes, but NCS-R data was used as a baseline.
- Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders: Posttraumatic stress disorder (6.8%) is notable, often linked to traumatic events, with acute stress disorder less common at 1-2%, per general estimates.
- Bipolar and Related Disorders: Bipolar disorder (2.1% for I and II) shows lower prevalence, with cyclothymic disorder at 0.5%, reflecting mood instability without full mania or depression.
- Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders: Schizophrenia (0.7%) and schizoaffective disorder (0.3%) are less common, with severe impacts on thought and perception, per DSM-5-TR text.
- Other Categories: Disorders like obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (e.g., OCD at 2.5%), neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., ADHD at 2.8% in adults, autism at 1.5%), and eating disorders (e.g., binge-eating disorder at 2.5%, anorexia at 0.75%) were estimated based on literature reviews, with less precise data for rarer conditions like dissociative identity disorder (0.5%).
Challenges and Limitations
The analysis faced challenges due to discrepancies in reported prevalence, particularly for substance use disorders, where NESARC-III’s 10.4% for any drug use disorder conflicted with higher individual rates for specific substances. This was resolved by using NESARC-III data for DSM-5 drug use disorder. The lack of a single comprehensive table for all DSM-5-TR diagnoses required piecing together data, with some estimates based on DSM-IV adjusted for minimal criteria changes. Variations by age, gender, and region were noted but not fully accounted for, focusing on U.S. general population estimates.
Conclusion
This ranking provides a starting point for understanding the prevalence of DSM-5-TR diagnoses, highlighting alcohol use disorder, major depressive disorder, and specific phobia as most common. Further research using DSM-5 criteria, especially for less common disorders, is needed for precision. The high prevalence of alcohol use disorder at 29.1% underscores public health priorities, given its inclusion of both abuse and dependence.
