Changes were made in the names of diagnostic categories and descriptions as well as the addition of new categories, most notably, a section for childhood disorders. 

An attempt to shift away from a theoretical orientation

DSMII dropped most of the "reaction" language, although some diagnosis continued to use that terminology. 

Additionally, nomenclature was carefully selected to avoid terms implying causality. 

Term usage

There were some minor changes. 

Term usage

Categories

An attempt to shift away from a theoretical orientation 

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

In 1968, the American Psychological Association (APA) published the DSM-II in an effort to revise the first edition in accordance with 1960s overall challenges to the concept of mental illness. Due to critiques and arguments from psychologist, sociologists, activists, and others, this version resulted in broad and vague interpretations of symptoms that resulted in a lack of consistency in diagnostic practices. 

DSM-II

Sanders, J. L. (2011). A distinct language and a historic pendulum: the evolution of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Archives of psychiatric nursing, 25(6), 394-403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2010.10.002

A distinct language and a historic pendulum: the evolution of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Clegg, J. W. (2012). Teaching about mental health and illness through the history of the DSM. History of psychology, 15(4), 364. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027249

Teaching about mental health and illness through the history of the DSM

The APA initiated revisions of the DSM while working with the WHO to promote uniformity on the development of mental disorder section of International Classification of Disease (ICD-8).

The Rise of DSMII

There are some aspects of DSMI that were kept for DSMII.

Theoretical stances

Some terms

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