The gradation of psychopathology: for better or for worse

Lately, there has been a growing interest in the dimensional concept of psychiatric diagnosis, along with a tendency to replace the categorical concept by the dimensional one. Before favouring either of these concepts, more light should be shed on the specifics of the categorical and dimensional approach to diagnosing mental disorders. A comparison of the main features of the categorical and dimensional concepts of psychiatric diagnosis has been made. The strengths of the categorical concept are weaknesses of the dimensional one, and vice versa. The clinical utility of the categorical concept over-rates the dimensional model, whereas the dimensional concept provides more information about the respective individual. Usefulness of the categorical concept is the major reason why it is going to stay as a cornerstone of psychiatric diagnostics.