Gutenberg and the ICD-9 of Mental Disorders

Stimulated by the improvements contained in the ICD-9 of Mental Disorders, the author ventures to revive certain earlier suggestion aimed at its further simplification and homogenization. The major points are: (1) Three separate lists of items, one for each of the variables--Category, Specified Syndrome, and Aetiology, as well as compulsory registration of aetiology even when merely inferred. (2) Threefold diagnoses, built up by one item from each list, but with no catalogue of preconceived combinations, the manual containing only the lists. (3) No running numbering of diagnoses, but codification by juxtaposition of three independent numerals.