A critical review of current classifications of depression

Abstract

bstract: The difficulties of current classifications of depression can not be considered independent of the general complications of psychiatric classification. A tedious period of beated debate between the proponents of unitary vs pluralist views, and between the advocates of the categorical vs dimensional views didn’t prove fruitful. Current classifications share two main characteristics, i.e., they are "descriptive" and "categorical". Our review of evidence regarding the classification of depression indicates that these two peculiarities are the main causes of stagnation of validity. In general, current classificatory systems have failed to attain their proposed goals. Our suggestion is that the efforts of researchers should be directed toward two parallel approaches. One approach may be called "systemic-dimensional", which can in fact lead to a comprehensive and valid classificatory system, still far from reach. The other approach is practical and problem oriented which can help us build ad-hoc classification. The present nosological systems cannot endure, because they embody neither of the above mentioned approaches