Psychiatric diagnosis : British Journal of Psychiatry (original) (raw)

impersonal, imperfect and important

• Nick Craddock
• Laurence Mynors-Wallis

British Journal of Psychiatry

204

(

2

)

:p

93

-

95

,

February 2014

.

Summary

Psychiatric diagnosis is in the spotlight following the recent publication of DSM-5. In this article we consider both the benefits and limitations of diagnosis in psychiatry. The use of internationally recognised diagnoses, although insufficient alone, is part of a psychiatrist's professional responsibility to provide high-quality, evidence-based care for patients.