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Psychiatric classification as a reflection of uncertainties
Author(s) -
Mellergård M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1987.tb02870.x
Subject(s) - hierarchy , reflection (computer programming) , natural (archaeology) , core (optical fiber) , class (philosophy) , psychiatry , psychology , epistemology , computer science , artificial intelligence , political science , philosophy , law , history , telecommunications , archaeology , programming language
— Some problems of psychiatric classification are discussed and a shift of viewpoint is suggested. The existence of a natural and inherent structure for the class of psychiatric disorders is a matter of dispute, and it is postulated that a continuous search for such natural structure may be futile. Clinical psychiatry shall try to answer a series of questions which can be formulated as a hierarchy of uncertainties. It is now suggested that the existing pool of information used for psychiatric description may be a reflection of these uncertainties. The pool shall be analysed for core‐syndromes which are the reliable components of an alternative classification.