Can categorical and dimensional views of psychiatric illness be distinguished?
Bimodality in a distribution of symptoms is often claimed to be convincing evidence that a disorder is categorical, a discrete disease entity, rather than the extreme on a continuous dimension. However, using concepts from contemporary psychometric theory it is shown that bimodality can arise from the dimensional viewpoint. In fact, contrary to the usual belief, bimodality would be expected to occur in many research contexts if the dimensional alternative were correct.
NH&MRC Social Psychiatry Research Unit, Australian National University, Canberra.
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Grayson
D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012016:Reference Values