DSM-III disorders in a large sample of psychiatric patients: frequency and specificity of diagnoses.
This study examined certain nosological features of DSM-III axis I diagnostic categories and subcategories as applied to 11,292 general psychiatric patients presenting for care, using a semistructured assessment procedure. The most frequently used major categories were affective, substance use, childhood-onset, and adjustment disorders. Secondary diagnoses were given to 26% of the patients. Male patients predominated in the categories of impulse-control, psychosexual, and substance use disorders, and female patients predominated in the categories of anxiety, affective, and somatoform disorders. Of the 329 five-digit subcategories available in DSM-III, 296 (90%) were actually used. Sixteen percent of the patients were given unspecific primary diagnoses.
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15213.
J E
JE
Mezzich
H
H
Fabrega
G A
GA
Coffman
R
R
Haley
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012737:Sex Factors