title: The Importance of Considering Clinical Utility in the Construction of a Diagnostic Manual.
abstract: The development of major diagnostic manuals primarily has been guided by construct validity rather than clinical utility. The purpose of this article is to summarize recent research and theory examining the importance of clinical utility when constructing and evaluating a diagnostic manual. We suggest that construct validity is a necessary but not sufficient criterion for diagnostic constructs. This article discusses components of clinical utility and how these have applied to the current and forthcoming diagnostic manuals. Implications and suggestions for future research are provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078; email: stephanie.sweatt@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stephanie N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Mullins-Sweatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078; email: stephanie.sweatt@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Lengel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078; email: stephanie.sweatt@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hilary L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: DeShong
mesh_terms: D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases / Q000592:standards*; D008370:Manuals as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*
keywords: DSM; ICD; clinical utility; diagnostic construct