Methodological issues in psychiatry: psychiatry as an empirical science.
The paper reflects the empirical position of psychiatry as a research discipline. Principles of empirical research are discussed, such as the generation of empirical hypotheses, the falsification of hypotheses, the logical structure of theories, etc. It is discussed to what extent these principles can be transferred to psychiatric research.
Möller
H J
HJ
Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 80336 Munich, Germany. hans-juergen.moeller@psy.med.unimuenchen.de
D036262:Empirical Research; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D011600:Psychopharmacology / Q000379:methods; D015871:Scientific Misconduct; D009626:Terminology as Topic