ANXIETY DISORDERS

Composite Diagnostic Evaluation

Thomas A. Ban, M.D.

 

Nosology: Organizing Principles

          Development of the nosologic approach was triggered by the recognition that a valid classification of mental illness cannot be attained on the basis of psychopathologic symptoms alone. One possible reason for this is that in both the organization of a psychiatric disorder and classification of psychiatric disorders there are other factors – which might be referred to as nosologic or taxonomic organizing principles – which play an important role. To date at least four such “other factors” or organizing principles have been identified, i.e., temporality, polarity, spatiality and totality. Nevertheless, the fact remains that psychopathology, i.e., pathologic processing of experience, has remained the primary and first organizing principle (Table 2).