Abstract
The authors discuss some of the conceptual issues that must be considered in using and understanding psychiatric classification. DSM-IVis a practical and common sense nosology of psychiatric disorders that is intended to improve communication in clinical practice and in researchstudies. DSM-IV has no philosophic pretensions but does raise many philosphical questions. This paper describes the development of DSM-IV and the way in which it addresses a number of philosophic issues: Nominalism vs. realism, epistemologyin science, the mind/body dichotomy, the definition of mental disorders, and dimensional vs. categorical classification.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 207-218 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Medicine and Philosophy (United Kingdom) |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1994 |
Keywords
- DSM-IV
- Nosology
- Psychiatric classification
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Issues, ethics and legal aspects
- Philosophy