title: Psychiatric diagnoses in legal systems: an issue of validity.
abstract: When considering psychiatric evidence, justice systems from many countries are frequently presented with diagnostic labels from official psychiatric classificatory systems. A lack of validity in much of these classificatory systems is receiving increasing attention. Illustrative examples include post-traumatic stress disorder, various personality disorders and dissociative identity disorder. The courts and review bodies from many jurisdictions place tremendous faith in the present categorical classifications (e.g., DSMIV and ICD10). This paper questions whether the reliance on these classifications systems is appropriate in legal proceedings.
authors.affiliation: Waikato Clinical School of the University of Auckland, New Zealand. graham.mellsop@waikatodhb.health.nz
authors.forename: Graham W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Mellsop
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Diesfel
mesh_terms: D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*