Classifying Mental Disorders

Borrowing a definition from Mendelson and Jablensky (2001, p. 63), classification essentially involves ordering objects into groups on the basis of their relationships. A long history of classifying mental disorders brought the American Psychiatric Association to the development of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which clinical principles; specified criteria and decision rules for each category; as well as an assessment system encompassing various aspects.I believe that it is of utmost importance for a practitioner to strive to make classification both reliable and valid (Mendelson & Jablensky 2001, p. 77). Additionally, when classification is applied to any case, one needs to remember to be careful when applying a purely discrete category to a mental disorder. Instead, it often makes sense to resort to a dimensional category, as recommended by Mendelson & Jablensky (2001, p. 79). Furthermore, psychiatric professionals need to have a good grasp of the “big five” (Mendelson & Jablensky 2001, p. 80). clinical clusters, which can be applied for classification of diverse conditions and disorders. Overall, however, we need to always remember that classification involves both a good knowledge of psychiatry and awareness of the varieties of emotional distress.Classifying psychiatric disorders is important because it contributes to the establishment of communication “by introducing common language” (Mendelson & Jablensky 2001, p. 63). Also, it is believed that classification supplies terms which make possible study of the manifestations and the natural history of these disorders. It is needed so we can predict outcome and effects of the prescribed course of treatment and so we can conduct further research into causes, epidemiology, services planning, evaluation and administration (Singh & Kirkby 2011, p. 82).ReferencesMendelson, G & Jablensky, A 2011, ‘What does psychiatry encompass?’, in B Bloch & Singh, B (eds.), Foundations of clinical psychiatry, Melbourne University Publishing, Melbourne.Singh, B & Kirby, K 2011, ‘The psychiatric interview, mental state examination and formulation’, in B Bloch & Singh, B (eds.), Foundations of clinical psychiatry, Melbourne University Publishing, Melbourne.Discuss your framework of practice and your understanding of classification systemMendelson, G & Jablensky, A 2001, „What does psychiatry …