Disorders Current Diagnostics

Molecular weight markers for electrophoresis and hybridization techniques are widely used. These markers provide information in regard to molecular weights of rearranged bands. These techniques are useful in monitoring patients for relapse or residual disease status. The 32P-labeled and biotinylated DNA molecular weight markers provide visualization on the film and membrane. Hardware systems with band size computation capabilities are available. 

Lymphoid neoplasms are clone-expanded proliferations of cells representing distinct stages of B/T cell development. Immunoglobulin gene rearrangements can be detected to indicate monoclonality of B-cell lineage lymphoproliferative 

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia and Acute Leukemias Current Diagnostics 

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EVOLUTION OF CLASSIFICATION IN THE DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS CURRENT PROBLEMS AND PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES... 

Although neuroticism is not a disease per se, it predisposes individuals to anxiety disorders (12, 13). Neuroticism is a vulnerability factor for all forms of anxiety (14-16). A system established by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychiatric Disorders in the United States, currently in its 4th edition (DSM-IV) text revision (TR) (American Psychiatric Association, 2000), sets the boundary at which a particular level of behavior becomes an anxiety disorder—a level often based on the number and the duration of symptoms. DSM is a categorical system based on the qualitative separation of disease states from the state of well-being. The DSM-IVTR category of anxiety disorders currently includes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), simple phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, social phobia, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) as discrete anxiety disorders. The International Classification of Diseases-10 (IC-10) is a similar system, but it is less frequently used in research (17). 

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) represents the most widely used psychiatric nosology in the United States. From a historical perspective, it appears that the major changes to the DSM have taken place to solve a few specific problems—particularly, problems with reliability. Over time, the DSM has done well in addressing problems related to reliability, but this evolution has raised many criticisms and has created additional problems. In this chapter, the history of the DSM is reviewed, along with the major criticisms that have been raised about its more recent versions. We also suggest taxometric analysis as one method that will prove useful in addressing many of the limitations of the current system. 

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