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DSM-III-R criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder.
E A Brett1, R L Spitzer, J B Williams
1Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|October 1, 1988
Summary
The DSM-III-R revised diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) offer clearer symptom organization and include child-specific features. These updates enhance the diagnostic evolution of PTSD.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Mental Health Diagnostics
Background:
- The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM-III) established criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Subsequent clinical experience and research highlighted areas for refinement in the PTSD diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the specific modifications made to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD in the DSM-III-R.
- To analyze the impact and significance of these revisions on PTSD diagnosis and understanding.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of DSM-III and DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for PTSD.
- Review of the rationale and implications of the revised symptom clusters and specifications.
Main Results:
- DSM-III-R introduced clearer definitions of traumatic stressors.
- Symptoms are now organized into three core dimensions: reexperiencing, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal.
- Specific criteria for children and guidelines for onset/duration were added.
Conclusions:
- The DSM-III-R revisions represent a significant advancement in the diagnostic framework for PTSD.
- These changes provide a more nuanced and comprehensive approach to identifying and understanding PTSD.