title: The mental illness spectrum.
abstract: There exists a growing argument in favour of a more dimensional approach to the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric patients. This encompasses first the idea of a spectrum of symptoms correlating to severity within a single disorder, and secondly, the idea of spectra of different disorders sharing overlapping collections of symptoms. Here we consider the issue in light of specific clinical examples we have observed, which support the idea of a 'mental illness spectrum', both with symptoms within a single disorder, and between different mental disorders.
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Medicine University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Deepti M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agius
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D062706:Prodromal Symptoms; D011613:Psychotherapy; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate