title: [Comorbidity in psychiatric diseases. Theoretical considerations].
abstract: During the last 10 years, comorbidity has become an important topic in psychiatric research, leading to a growing number of publications. We discuss the theoretical and historical background of this development and present definitions and models for the phenomenon. Methodological difficulties have to be stated: considering its clinical consequences, we conclude that (1) comorbidity is an inevitable methodological consequence of the diagnostic strategies and continued diversification of DSM-IV and ICD-10, (2) there is little doubt of its relevance in the clinical context, and (3) the diagnostic strategies of DSM-IV and ICD-10 concerning comorbidity are difficult to follow in clinical reality.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg. peter.brieger@medizin.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brieger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marneros
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000592:standards*