Feighner Criteria

Feighner Criteria is a set of diagnostic criteria used for the classification of psychiatric disorders. It was developed by a group of researchers led by John Feighner in 1972. The criteria were designed to provide a more precise and consistent method for diagnosing mental illnesses, and they have had a significant impact on the field of psychiatry.

History

The Feighner Criteria were first published in 1972 in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry. The criteria were developed by a group of researchers led by John Feighner, who were based at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. The group's aim was to develop a set of diagnostic criteria that could be used to consistently diagnose mental illnesses, in order to facilitate research in the field.

Criteria

The Feighner Criteria consist of 16 categories of mental disorders, each with its own set of specific diagnostic criteria. The categories include schizophrenia, manic depressive illness, depressive disorder, anxiety neurosis, and alcohol addiction, among others.

For each category, the criteria specify the symptoms that must be present, the duration of the symptoms, and the need for the symptoms to cause significant distress or impairment. The criteria also specify that the symptoms must not be due to another medical condition or to the effects of a substance.

Impact

The Feighner Criteria have had a significant impact on the field of psychiatry. They were one of the first attempts to provide a precise and consistent method for diagnosing mental illnesses, and they have influenced subsequent diagnostic systems, including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

Criticism

Despite their impact, the Feighner Criteria have also been criticized. Some critics argue that the criteria are too rigid and do not adequately capture the complexity and variability of mental illnesses. Others argue that the criteria are based on a biomedical model of mental illness that neglects social and psychological factors.

See also

• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• International Classification of Diseases
• Psychiatric diagnosis

References

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