title: Relational disorders and relational processes in diagnostic practice: introduction to the special section.
abstract: The special section addresses a number of salient issues that will arise as the revision process for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) unfolds and the role of relational processes in mental health is considered. This collection of articles, which emphasize historical, conceptual, and empirical contributions to the discussion, is intended to stimulate debate in the field and to serve as a resource for individuals charged with proposing new diagnostic guidelines. Jointly, the articles make it clear that the authors can improve on the current treatment of relational processes in the DSM and that there is a solid foundation of family research that can inform any discussion on this topic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. sbeach@egon.psy.uga.edu
authors.forename: Steven R H
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.forename: Nadine J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kaslow
mesh_terms: D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology