Taxometric analysis

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. 

In this chapter, we have suggested that the DSM has a number of deficiencies, many of which can be corrected through the application of appropriate statistical analyses. In the following chapters, we provide concrete examples of how taxometric analysis can revolutionize how nosologic entities are determined. 

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