Psychiatric Diagnosis and Classification

This book provides an overview of the strengths and limitations of the currently available systems for the diagnosis and classification of mental disorders, in particular the DSM-IV and the ICD-10, and of the prospects for future developments. Among the covered issues are: *The impact of biological research * The diagnosis of mental disorders in primary care *The usefulness and limitations of the concept of comorbidity in psychiatry * The role of understanding and empathy in the diagnostic process * The ethical, legal and social aspects of psychiatric classification Psychiatric Diagnosis & Classification provides a comprehensive picture of the current state of available diagnostic and classificatory systems in psychiatry and the improvements that are needed.