[Development of modern classification systems and their effects on forensic psychiatric expert assessment]

The world-wide use of modern classification systems such as DSM-III and ICD-10 forces forensic psychiatry to examine the basic concepts of these systems, if the gap already existing between clinical and forensic psychiatry is not to widen. On the one hand concentrating on the historical development of these systems this article shows their limited value in forensic psychiatry. On the other hand a possible way of arriving at more empirically based forensic expert opinions with the help of these classification systems is discussed. The concept of comorbidity of these new systems is given special attention in this connection.