The classification of panic disorders: From Freud to DSM-IV

https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3956(93)90013-RGet rights and content

Abstract

The authors trace the history of the classification of anxiety disorders, beginning with a detailed discussion of Freud's work on anxiety-neurosis as a basis for subsequent work. They discuss how anxiety disorders were described in DSM-I and DSM-II where Freud's concept of the anxiety neurosis was used as a major organizing principle. The revolutionary change in DSM-III is described in which the term and organizing principle of neurosis was dropped. The controversies that have arisen as a result of changes in DSM-III-R are discussed, particularly as they relate to compatibility with the International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) and especially with respect to the relationship and priority of panic and agoraphobia. Finally the authors discuss the process by which decisions will be made in DSM-IV where changes will be based on systematic reviews of empirical evidence whenever possible.

References (19)

  • P. Tyrer

    Classification of anxiety disorders: A critique of DSM-III

    Journal of Affective Disorders

    (1986)
  • American Psychiatric Association

    Diagnostic and statistical manual. Mental disorders

    (1952)
  • American Psychiatric Association

    Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

    (1968)
  • American Psychiatric Association

    Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

    (1980)
  • American Psychiatric Association

    Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

    (1987)
  • Craske, M. Is agoraphobic avoidance secondary to panic disorder? Literature review prepared for the DSM-IV anxiety...
  • A.J. Frances et al.

    The development of DSM-IV

    Archives of General Psychiatry

    (1989)
  • A. Frances et al.

    DSM-IV: Work in progress

    American Journal of Psychiatry

    (1990)
  • A. Frances et al.

    Classification of anxiety states in DSM-III and perspectives for its classification in DSM-IV

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (23)

  • Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia Across the Lifespan

    2015, International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences: Second Edition
  • Diagnosing agoraphobia in the context of panic disorder: Examining the effect of DSM-IV criteria on diagnostic decision-making

    2005, Behaviour Research and Therapy
    Citation Excerpt :

    In fact, in the DSM-IV, agoraphobia is only coded in the context of either PD or limited-symptom panic attacks (agoraphobia without history of PD). Thus, agoraphobic behaviors are now more commonly conceptualized as panic-related sequelae (Frances et al., 1993; Goldstein & Chambless, 1978). Technically, Agoraphobia without a History of PD can also be diagnosed in the context of concerns regarding incapacitation due to a medical condition or fear of embarrassment because of unpredictable medical symptoms.

  • The catastrophic misinterpretation model of panic disorder

    2001, Behaviour Research and Therapy
    Citation Excerpt :

    The result is that the BSIQ and other similar instruments may be unable to detect catastrophic misinterpretation in panickers who primarily experience symptoms not covered by the questionnaire items. Furthermore, there are clinical reports that some panic sufferers complain of symptoms that are not covered by DSM-IV such as blurred vision, headache, tinnitus, and urinary frequency (Frances, Miele, Widiger, Pincus, Manning, & Davis, 1993). Some factor analytic studies have identified panic attack symptoms in addition to those listed in the DSM-IV.

View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text