Diagnosis and classification in psychiatry: Gerald Klerman's contribution

Gerald Klerman (1928-1992) made substantial contributions to diagnosis and classification in psychiatry during a time of great change. He understood and appreciated the importance of descriptive, biological, psychoanalytic, social, interpersonal and behavioral approaches and was uniquely able to integrate them cogently. He demanded that theories and hypotheses be tested empirically, and he spearheaded many key scientific research programs directed toward this goal, including the Clinical Studies of the National Institute of Mental Health Program on the Psychobiology of Depression. This article provides an overview of his contributions.