[Behavior analytic approaches of research in psychiatry]

Biologically oriented psychiatric research usually relies more on abstract nosological concepts than on purely descriptive psychopathological syndromes. However, biological validation of psychiatric diagnoses has not been possible so far. More recent findings emphasize the nosological unspecificity, but syndromal specificity of biological data. It seems promising therefore to differentiate psychopathological descriptions more clearly by using objective methods of behavioural assessment and analysis. Concept, methods and examples of this empirical approach will be outlined.