Classification of Psychological Disorders

Classification Of Psychological Disorders

• A classification of psychological disorders consists of a list of categories of specific psychological disorders grouped into various classes on the basis of some shared characteristics.
• Classifications are useful because they enable users like psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers to:

1. Communicate with each other about the disorder
2. Help in understanding the causes of psychological disorders and the processes involved in their development and maintenance

• Official manuals describing and classifying various kinds of psychological disorders:

1) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5^th Edition (DSM-5): Current

by the American Psychiatric Association (APA)

It presents discrete clinical criteria which indicate the presence or absence of disorders.

2) International Classifications of Diseases (ICD-10)

ICD-10 Classification of Behavioral and Mental Disorders by WHO (World Health Organizations)

For each disorder, a description of the main clinical features or symptoms, and of other associated features including diagnostic guidelines is provided.