Today's date is
We should begin with full disclosure. As head of the DSMIV Task Force, I established strict guidelines to ensure that changes from DSMIIIR to DSMIV would be few and well supporte d by empirical data. Please keep this history in mind as you read my numerous criticisms o f the current DSMV processespecially its stated ambition to effect a "paradigm shift" in psy chiatric diagnosis. It is reasonable for you
to wonder whether I am carrying forward an inherently conservative bias or am protecting my own DSMIV baby. I think not and that
instead I am identifying potentially grave problems in the DSMV goals, methods, and prod ucts. IT IS FOR THE READER TO JUDGE MY
OBJECTIVITY AND THE ACCURACY OF MY FEARS THAT, UNLESS ITS COURSE IS CORRECTE D, DSMV WILL LEAD TO MANY DAMAGING
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. [Edit by webmaster castellano-hoyt]
Much of our work on the DSMIV centered on spotting and avoiding possible misuses of the system. Realizing that errors in the official
system of psychiatric diagnosis can lead to all sorts of dreadful problems, we established a rigorous three stage procedure of empirical documentation to filter out mistakes. . .
Beware of its Unintended Consequences