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Child Psychiatric Disorders: Are They Classifiable?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

John S. Werry*
Affiliation:
University of Auckland, PB 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract

Classification of child (including adolescent) disorders is reviewed within six areas: requirements for a good taxonomy, current systems of classification for children, data-capture methods, reliability and validity, the link between child and adult disorders, and directions for future developments. While substantial progress has been made, there is a continuing need for comparisons of different systems, more systematic yet practicable data capture, proper psychometric analyses of criteria and categories, intensive studies of clinical validity, closer attention to the similarity of, and links between, child and adult categories, and better definition and targeting of those disorders with a serious outcome.

Type
Lecture
Copyright
Copyright © 1992 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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