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The current status of post‐traumatic stress disorder as a diagnostic category: Problems and proposals
Author(s) -
O'Donohue William,
Elliott Ann
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.2490050307
Subject(s) - traumatic stress , psychology , current (fluid) , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , engineering , electrical engineering
This paper examines the taxonomic adequacy of the DSMIII‐R category of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After reviewing the functions of classification and the current description of PTSD the following questions are raised: Is PTSD a mental disorder? Is PTSD an anxiety disorder? Do the current diagnostic criteria best characterize the sequelae typically induced by trauma? Is the current category sufficiently homogeneous or should subclassifications be made on the basis of precipitating trauma? Several suggestions for improving the taxonomic adequacy of this category are advanced.