DSM-5 and Psychiatry's Second Revolution: Descriptive vs. Theoretical Approaches to Psychiatric Classification

A large part of the controversy surrounding the publication of DSM-5 stems from the possibility of replacing the purely descriptive approach to classification favored by the DSM since 1980. This paper examines the question of how mental disorders should be classified, focusing on the issue of whether the DSM should adopt a purely descriptive or theoretical approach. I argue that the DSM should replace its purely descriptive approach with a theoretical approach that integrates causal information into the DSM’s descriptive diagnostic categories. The paper proceeds in three sections. In the first section, I examine the goals (viz., guiding treatment, facilitating research, and improving communication) associated with the DSM’s purely descriptive approach. In the second section, I suggest that the DSM’s purely descriptive approach is best suited for improving communication among mental health professionals; however, theoretical approaches would be superior for purposes of treatment and research. In the third section, I outline steps required to move the DSM towards a hybrid system of classification that can accommodate the benefits of descriptive and theoretical approaches, and I discuss how the DSM’s descriptive categories could be revised to incorporate theoretical information regarding the causes of disorders. I argue that the DSM should reconceive of its goals more narrowly such that it functions primarily as an epistemic hub that mediates among various contexts of use in which definitions of mental disorders appear. My analysis emphasizes the importance of pluralism as a methodological means for avoiding theoretical dogmatism and ensuring that the DSM is a reflexive and self-correcting manual

Low-lying excitations in Ni-72

The levels in 129Sn populated from the β− decay of 129In isomers were investigated at the ISOLDE facility of CERN using the newly commissioned ISOLDE Decay Station (IDS). The lowest 1/2+ state and the 3/2+ ground state in 129Sn are expected to have configurations dominated by the neutron s1/2 (l = 0) and d3/2 (l = 2) single-particle states, respectively. Consequently, these states should be connected by a somewhat slowl-forbidden M1 transition. Using fast-timing spectroscopy we havemeasured the half-life of the 1/2+ 315.3-keV state, T1/2 = 19(10) ps, which corresponds to a moderately fast M1 transition. Shell-model calculations using the CD-Bonn effective interaction, with standard effective charges and g factors, predict a 4-ns half-life for this level. We can reconcile the shell-model calculations to the measured T1/2 value by the renormalization of the M1 effective operator for neutron holes.status: publishe

Low-lying excitations in Ni 72

International audienceLow-lying excited states in Ni72 have been investigated in an in-flight fission experiment at the RIBF facility of the RIKEN Nishina Center. The combination of the state-of-the-art BigRIPS and EURICA setups has allowed for a very accurate study of the β decay from Co72 to Ni72, and has provided first experimental information on the decay sequence Fe72→Co72→Ni72 and on the delayed neutron-emission branch Co73→Ni72. Accordingly, we report nearly 60 previously unobserved γ transitions which deexcite 21 new levels in Ni72. Evidence for the location of the so-sought-after (4+2),(6+2), and (8+1) seniority states is provided. As well, the existence of a low-spin β-decaying isomer in odd-odd neutron-rich Co isotopes is confirmed for mass A=72. The new experimental information is compared to simple shell-model calculations including only neutron excitations across the fpg shells. It is shown that, in general, the calculations reproduce well the observed states

Coulomb excitation of 68Ni^{68}Ni at 600 AMeV

none51noneA. BRACCO; G. BENZONI; N. BLASI; S. BRAMBILLA; F. CAMERA; F.C.L. CRESPI; S. LEONI; B. MILLION; D. MONTANARI; M. PIGNANELLI; O. WIELAND; A. MAJ; P. BEDNARCZYK; J. GREBOSZ; M. KMIECIK; W. MECZYNSKI; J. STYCZEN; T. AUMANN; A. BANU; T. BECK; F. BECKER; L. CACERES; P. DOORNENBAL; H. EMLING; J. GERL; H. GEISSEL; M. GORSKA; O. KAVATSYUK; M. KAVATSYUK; I. KOJOUHAROV; N. KURZ; R. LOZEVA; N. SAITO; T. SAITO; H. SHAFFNER; H.J. WOLLERSHEIM; J. JOLIE; P. REITER; N. WARR; G. DE ANGELIS; A. GADEA; D. NAPOLI; S. LENZI; S. LUNARDI; D. BALABANSKI; G. LO BIANCO; C. PETRACHE; A. SALTARELLI; M. CASTOLDI; A. ZUCCHIATTI; J. WALKER; A. BUERGERA., Bracco; G., Benzoni; N., Blasi; S., Brambilla; F., Camera; F. C. L., Crespi; S., Leoni; B., Million; D., Montanari; M., Pignanelli; O., Wieland; A., Maj; P., Bednarczyk; J., Grebosz; M., Kmiecik; W., Meczynski; J., Styczen; T., Aumann; A., Banu; T., Beck; F., Becker; L., Caceres; P., Doornenbal; H., Emling; J., Gerl; H., Geissel; M., Gorska; O., Kavatsyuk; M., Kavatsyuk; I., Kojouharov; N., Kurz; R., Lozeva; N., Saito; T., Saito; H., Shaffner; H. J., Wollersheim; J., Jolie; P., Reiter; N., Warr; G., DE ANGELIS; A., Gadea; D., Napoli; Lenzi, SILVIA MONICA; Lunardi, Santo; D., Balabanski; G., LO BIANCO; C., Petrache; A., Saltarelli; M., Castoldi; A., Zucchiatti; J., Walker; A., Buerge