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Issues in diagnosing anxiety disorders

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Abstract

Research progress in the anxiety disorders is predicated on a useful classification system. In this paper, we review the reliability and validity data for theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd ed. (DSM-III) anxiety disorders and discuss the salient issues associated with both the conceptualization of anxiety disorders and the diagnostic criteria offered in the DSM-III. It is concluded that the diagnostic reliability for these disorders is, overall, satisfactory. A dearth of validity data, however, hinders progress in both the diagnosis and the treatment of the anxiety disorders. Nevertheless, the DSM-III work group has proposed several changes in the diagnostic criteria for the anxiety disorders. We find some of these proposed changes helpful in that they clarify current diagnostic criteria; changes in diagnostic criteria that alter the basic classification schema, however, seem to be premature.

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  1. Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Albany, 12203, Albany, New York

    Jerome A. Cerny, William G. Himadi & David H. Barlow

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  1. Jerome A. Cerny
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  2. William G. Himadi
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Preparation of this paper was supported in part by MIMH Research Grant 1368.

On sabbatical leave from Indiana State University.

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Cerny, J.A., Himadi, W.G. & Barlow, D.H. Issues in diagnosing anxiety disorders. Journal of Behavioral Assessment 6, 301–329 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321323

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