The diagnosis and classification of mental disorders are essential elements of psychiatric practice. Labeling and classifying phenomena enables the conveyance of a host of information about the clinical picture, etiology, pathogenesis, prognosis, and treatment of a patient's condition. Recent developments have introduced a new rigor and precision into a diagnostic process previously viewed as highly idiosyncratic and imprecise. This volume reviews the major clinical syndromes in the light of current research, and offers recommendations for improving and refining our approach to diagnosing and classifying psychiatric disorders. The authors address issues involved in constructing classification systems and considers the value of multiaxial approaches to the diagnostic process. The implications of diagnostic and classificatory systems for clinical practice, mental health education, and program administration are thoroughly examined. Particular attention is paid to evaluation of the new system of classification adopted by the American Psychiatric Association, which is the focus of much interest worldwide. Together, these chapters constitute a comprehensive appraisal of contemporary approaches to the diagnosis and classification of mental disorders, and of the impact of diagnosis and classification in the field.