title: [Diagnosis and classification in psychiatric disorders].
abstract: This paper provides a general overview of the evolution of the diagnostic concepts in Psychiatry, of the research methods for future improvement, of the goals reached and of the deterrants that have to be surpassed. Classification, standardization and systematization of mental disorders has not been an easy task. For this reason, during a long period of time a wide diversity in the classification of the mental illness that ran along with the thinking trend of each and everyone of the different authors has been observed. This resulted in a division of the specialty and in the contamination of its ideologies and also, it has damaged the reputation of the diagnosis. The development of psychopharmacology and of the epidemiological systems made necessary the implementation of a strict diagnostic system that could make possible the planning of treatments, the establishment of prognosis and the design of preventive measurements. England was the cradle of this change due to the fact that the situation of the specialty availed itself of the influence of the prestigious and noteworthy German professors exiled in this country. Since 1972, some of the material that has been published illustrates the new tendency of nosology. Since then, there has been a great proliferation of works in this field. The culminating point of these investigations is represented by the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association and by the International Classification of Illnesses (ICD-10). From this point of view, diagnosis is just a provisional hypothesis of a work that can be identified because of its pathological expressions and which is also of help in the communication between specialists.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Instituto Mexicano de Psiquiatría (IMP), México, D.F.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campillo Serrano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Díaz Martínez
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*