COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS - CHINESE CLASSIFICATION OF MENTAL-DISORDERS - 2ND EDITION VERSUS DSM-III-R

We report on the diagnostic comparative study of the Chinese Classific ation of Mental Disorders-Second Edition (CCMD-2) and the DSM-III-R in a field trial in China. The Adult Diagnostic Interview Schedule-Secon d Edition (ADIS-2), a modified diagnostic interview schedule that can generate, both CCMD-2 and DSM-III-R diagnoses, was used to test 254 ps ychiatric patients in China. It was found that the reliability and val idity of the CCMD-2 and DSM-III-R are compatible in most diagnostic ca tegories such as schizophrenia, delusional disorder, bipolar disorders , and depressive disorders. The discrepancies between Chinese and Amer ican diagnostic systems were found mainly in neurasthenia and hysteric al neuroses. Such discrepancies may have resulted from frequent change s of the diagnostic terms in the West, such as the phenomenon of neura sthenia, or from creating a new disorder entity in CCMD-2, such as ''E astern gymnastic exercises-induced mental disorder.'' Further cross-cu ltural studies focusing on these discrepant disorders are urgently nee ded to understand the cultural influences on diagnosis, as well as to improve the professional classification of mental disorders in differe nt diagnostic systems. Copyright (C) 1994 by W.B. Saunders Company