[The crisis of the operational diagnostic approach in psychiatry].
Based on historical and current contributions, the operational diagnostic approach is examined from a psychopathological point of view. Operational diagnostic systems in psychiatry are characterised by an atomising approach. In this context, psychopathological symptoms are interpreted as elementary entities which can be combined into a specific diagnostic category. Many years before operational diagnostic systems were introduced into psychiatry, however, such an atomising procedure was criticised by authors like Karl Jaspers, Willy Mayer-Gross or Klaus Conrad. Furthermore, validation of diagnostic criteria of operational diagnostic systems has not succeeded so far using biological findings or results of family and follow-up studies. This may be one reason for the fact that categorical approaches in psychiatric diagnosis are questioned increasingly and dimensional diagnostic models are suggested.
Jäger
M
M
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie II der Universität Ulm, Bezirkskrankenhaus Günzburg, Ludwig-Heilmeyer-Str. 2, 89312 Günzburg. Markus.Jaeger@bkh-guenzburg.de
Frasch
K
K
Becker
T
T
D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D009874:Operations Research; D011599:Psychopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results