USE OF ICD‐10 RESEARCH DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA TO CATEGORISE PSYCHIATRIC AND BEHAVIOURAL ABNORMALITIES AMONG PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES: THE WEST MIDLANDS FIELD TRIAL

Abstract

Abstract ICD‐10 Diagnostic Criteria for Research (DCR) based on the Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines for Mental and Behavioural Disorders were used to assign diagnoses to 38 people with mental retardation (MR) who had additional behavioural or psychiatric disorders. Problems were encountered with criteria for schizophrenia and related disorders. Recommendations were made regarding some diagnostic criteria, the method of coding diagnoses, and the need for additional guidance when classifying disorders associated with MR. Multiaxial classification during the field trial allowed mental and physical health problems and the severity of MR to be summarised in a standard format, assisting record keeping and the communication of information. The DCR represent an advance on previous diagnostic systems, and with additional axes (now being developed for use with a MR fascicle) will be a useful research tool. Psychiatric diagnoses and classificatory systems still suffer from the lack of external validating criteria or specific treatment responses for many disorders within them, and this poses special problems when the person with the disorder has difficulties with communication.