Diagnostic issues in posttraumatic stress disorder: considerations for the DSM-IV.
Four issues of key interest with regard to posttraumatic stress disorder in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) are discussed. These include: (a) how to define the stressor criterion, especially, whether or not the victim's response ought to be included and whether low-magnitude traumas qualify etiologically; (b) the cohesiveness of the syndrome and the validity of items across stressor groups; (c) the position of posttraumatic stress disorder within DSM-IV; and (d) comorbidity with other illnesses.
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
J R
JR
Davidson
E B
EB
Foa
D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology