title: Relational processes in the DSM-V revision process: comment on the special section.
abstract: With the aim of stimulating research in advance of the revision process of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, "A Research Agenda for DSM-V" (D. A. Kupfer, M. B. First, and D. A. Regier, 2002) was published, highlighting areas for further study. A white paper included in the research agenda (M. B. First et al., 2002) identified the limited provision for the diagnosis of relational disorders as one of the most important gaps in the current DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Specific recommendations in the research agenda included developing assessment modules, determining the clinical utility of relational disorders, determining the role of relational disorders in the etiology and maintenance of individual mental disorders, and considering aspects of relational disorders that might be modulated by individual mental disorders. In parallel with the 11 research planning conferences organized by the American Psychiatric Association from 2004 to 2007 under the title "The Future of Psychiatric Diagnosis: Refining the Research Agenda," a research planning conference sponsored by the Fetzer Institute was convened to promote research necessary for more empirically informed deliberations about the role of relational disorders in DSM-V. The current special section summarizes the conference proceedings and should serve as a valuable resource for the DSM-V revision process.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032-1007, USA. mbf2@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: First
mesh_terms: D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012107:Research Design