Sets out internationally agreed diagnostic criteria specifically
designed for use when conducting research on mental and behavioral
disorders. Deliberately restrictive, the criteria are intended to
facilitate the selection of groups of individuals whose symptoms and
other characteristics resemble each other in clearly stated ways, and
thus to maximize the homogeneity of study groups and the comparability
of findings in multi-centre and international studies. The book, which
covers over 300 disorders, is derived from chapter V(F) of the Tenth
Revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and
Related Health Problems (ICD-10). The research criteria were developed
in collaboration with the world's leading experts and finalized after
testing by researchers and clinicians in 32 countries, representing all
the major traditions and schools of psychiatry. Descriptions of clinical
concepts upon which the research criteria are based are contained in the
companion volume Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. For
each disorder, criteria are labeled with letters or numbers to indicate
their place in a hierarchy of generality and importance. This hierarchy
includes general criteria, which must be fulfilled by all members of a
group of disorders, obligatory criteria for individual disorders, and
further groups and sub-groups of characteristics, of which only some are
required for the diagnosis. Where appropriate, the most commonly used
exclusion clause is also listed. A number of disorders of uncertain or
provisional status are described in two annexes. The first covers
affective disorders that have been the subject of recent research,
together with certain personality disorders. The second describes
several disorders that seem to appear almost exclusively in particular
cultures.
