title: DSM-IV and new diagnostic categories: holding the line on proliferation.
abstract: The authors discuss aspects of the decision-making process for including "new" diagnostic categories in DSM-IV. They detail the different kinds of new categories proposed for inclusion in DSM-IV and discuss the risks and benefits of incorporating them. The authors comment on whether new diagnostic categories should be included in official nosologies as a stimulus for research or as a culmination of research. They also highlight problems with "sunsetting" diagnoses. The criteria for change in DSM-IV--a way to deal with the expanding array of proposals for additional diagnostic entities--are discussed. The authors also offer a series of specific examples of the different kinds of new categories being considered for inclusion in DSM-IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pincus
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frances
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: First
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Widiger
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D003657:Decision Making; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012106:Research; D012306:Risk; D012448:Sadism / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D009626:Terminology as Topic