title: Physical signs in psychiatry: a step towards evidence-based medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The descriptive nature of psychiatry is embedded in the traditions of Kraepelin, Bleuler and Freud. Diagnostic guidelines in both ICD10 and DSM-IV are stated to be based on the "clinical description of the variety of concepts" and are based on the subjective complaints, i.e. symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  In particular, we argue that no significant effort has been made to segregate the presence of accompanying physical signs in Major Depressive Illness, DSM-IV 296.2x, and Panic Disorder Without Agoraphobia, DSM-IV 300.01.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These physical signs are psychophysiological correlates of clinically significant depression and anxiety. Advances in structural biology, genetic engineering and brain imaging provide an opportunity to narrow the gap between physical signs and psychiatric symptoms in psychiatry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore we suggest that the next revisions of the DSM and the ICD classifications lead the way in incorporating physical signs alongside those symptoms pertaining to each psychiatric illness. (Int J Psych Clin Pract 2002; 6: 69-72).
authors.forename: Rk
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasper
keywords: Dsm-IV; Evidence-BASED Medicine; Icd-10